“The team has performed fantastically well,” Brendan Rodgers | OneFootball

Earlier today we covered the off the park aspects of Brendan Rodgers’ media conference ahead of the match against Hibs, leaving the football questions and answers for a second article which you can read HERE…

Brendan Rodgers named Scottish Premiership manager of the month for November. Image SPFL

Manager of the Month for November

On being named Manager of the Month for November, a delighted Brendan had this to say: “Well, a real collective effort by everyone, so the team has performed fantastically well, and all the staff have been really supportive, so yeah, on to the next game.

4th December 2024; Pittodrie, Aberdeen, Scottish Premiership, Aberdeen versus Celtic; Alistair Johnston in action. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

On Alistair Johnston comments about wins like the one on Wednesday night at Pittodrie being the one that win league titles, Brendan has this to say. “Well, I think that what has been so pleasing over the course of the season has been the variety of ways in which we can win. I think that’s always important as a team. I think our ethos here and our idea and our style is always to play fast, aggressive attacking football, always with technical discipline.

“We’ve seen that identity of the team”

“So that’s our idea and you’ll have seen numbers of games this season where we’ve seen that identity of the team. But you also have to respect that other teams aren’t going to allow you to do that all the time and they’re going to come and make it difficult for you.

Reo Hatate is brought down. 4th December 2024; Pittodrie, Scottish Premiership, Aberdeen versus Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

“Like Aberdeen, who have done really well this season. They were really compact, and tight, they broke the game up, so you don’t quite have your flow. So you then have to still persist in your work, trust your possession, trust the speed of your game in horrendous weather conditions and then look for those moments, which may only be few and far between. But you have to try to find them and that’s what we’ve done.

“The real pleasing aspect of our victories”

“So I think over the course of the season, that’s been the real pleasing aspect of our victories and wins and none better than, like you say, the game the other night to demonstrate that.”

Next the Celtic manager was asked about the excitement of the next three days over the next week (Hibs in the league, Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League and theRangers in the Premier Sports League Cup Final). Brendan was having none of that.

4th December 2024; Pittodrie, Aberdeen, ; Scottish Premiership , Aberdeen versus Celtic; Callum McGregor in action .Photo Vagelis Georgariou

He replied: “Well, the focus is tomorrow, I think that was clearly on the mind after Aberdeen. Get back, recover and then look to bring our game and be really proactive in the game tomorrow. So I’m looking forward to it, we love playing at home, we love the energy. Our last home game, we were absolutely brilliant. Our idea is to bring a similar game and that’s something I’m excited about.”

Brendan was then asked about the job David Gray has done at Hibs as he seems to have turned things around after a difficult period.

Sleepless nights

“Yeah, well I’m delighted for David, you get that first win. When you’re young as a manager and you’re into the sleepless nights and you’re thinking of everything. I think they’ve been unfortunate in some games where they haven’t picked up the result earlier. But obviously, the point that they got against Aberdeen will have helped confidence to come back later on. And then to get that victory against Motherwell, it certainly makes the food taste nicer on a Saturday night,” Brendan noted.

4th December 2024; Pittodrie; Scottish Premiership, Aberdeen versus Celtic; Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers celebrates the win. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

“So yeah, I’m happy for him that he gets the win and he will look to obviously build on that. It’s a big club Hibs, they expect to be up-challenging at the top. And like I said, David’s the perfect guy to help them get there. It’s just sometimes it takes that little bit of time to get going.”

Brendan was then asked about the cushion at the top of the league giving him the opportunity to utilise the full squad with the trip to Zagreb and the cup final in mind.

“Whatever team will send out for tomorrow is out to attack the game”

“Not really,” Brendan replied. “We were doing that anyway. So I think for me, it’s just about obviously using the squad. I have total trust in the group of players to play. So whatever team will send out for tomorrow is out to attack the game.”

Perhaps he would have a job on his hand making the team focus on the Hibs game with minds drifting to what comes next…

Liam Scales celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Ross County FC at Celtic Park on November 30, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“So you have to plan forward”

“Not really (again)” Brendan said. “Listen, I’m not going to sit here and say you don’t think ahead. Of course you do, that’s the nature of my job. I have to plan forward, of course. But always, you have to look to the next game as your priority. You need to understand what it is you’re thinking about for playing the Zagreb game like I was when we had Ross County, but we had Aberdeen. So you have to plan forward.

Luke McCowan celebrates scoring the second goal during the Celtic v Ross County Scottish Premiership match at Celtic Park on Saturday November 30, 2024. Photo Steve Welsh

“But that’s an exciting part of the job. It’s absolutely brilliant. I’ve got a great group of players that are hungry, that are ambitious, and they all want to play, which is great. If they don’t, they respect whoever’s playing, they look after their colleagues and then we’re all in to get the result.”

No injuries to worry about

Asked if the squad had any injury concerns after the gam at Aberdeen, it was good news from the gaffer. “No, we’re all good. We’re in a really, really good place. And I think that is also part of the rotation. I think what enables us to do that, that sometimes if you don’t have the knock-on effect if you don’t have the depth of squad and the strength in your squad, you’re maybe having to play players for 90 plus minutes, three times a week, playing them all the time, which is then you have a greater risk of injury.

READ THIS…“We must have the richest league in the world,” Brendan Rodgers

“What we’ve been able to do is manage the minutes of the players. And where there has been maybe a little niggle, we can then take someone out. Or if someone has played a lot more minutes, then we have that possibility to take them out. That’s the benefit of having a depth of squad. So I’ve really enjoyed that aspect of it, picking the teams to put out and giving that opportunity for someone to have some breathing space. It also can depend on the game that you’re playing and what it is you want from the game. That will decide who plays also.

Aberdeen v Celtic, 4th December 2024; Pittodrie Stadium, Scottish Premiership Aberdeen versus Celtic; Kasper Schmeichel of Celtic looks to clear long upfield. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Manager’s thoughts of Kasper Schmeichel

Next Brendan was asked for his thoughts of Kasper Schmeichel and his influence on the team, especially on such a tricky night as Wednesday at Pittodrie.

“He’s been massive for us. Like I say, a game like that, they’re the night. It’s where his style of work fits in – his style and that’s where it comes into play – those pressure moments. The ball goes back, especially in conditions like that there. Goalkeepers or some might not be as comfortable. So they then can end up just defending it and going long too early. And then it comes right back at you. But he brings the calmness.

“As I said, I’ve worked with him a long time. I know his quality. He’s a world-class shot-stopper. He’s great with his feet. His authority in the game is superb. Like you say, his handling is so clean. So he’s been massive for us. Just his whole presence and personality. I’m really happy for him,” Brendan said.

Kasper Schmeichel speaks to his teammates during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic FC and Club Brugge KV at Celtic Park on November 27, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“That has always been his ambition”

On Kasper continuing beyond this season, Brendan reckons that will happen as the Great Dane wants to keep playing. “Yeah, that has always been his ambition. I first met him back in 2019 in Leicester. His hunger and drive and desire. He’s like a young guy, 15 years younger than what he is. He has so much enthusiasm for the game and so much enthusiasm for goalkeeping as well. To throw himself about like he does every single day. I really have a big respect for him.

He’s obviously got his own personal targets in terms of if he can get a World Cup, which he will hope to be at. But I just know that he’s loved his life here. He’s enjoyed his life. Thankfully, he’s performing at a very high level for us.”

Kasper Schmeichel. Hearts v Celtic, 23 November 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Cameron Carter-Vickers

Finally Brendan was asked just pleased he was for Cameron Carter-Vickers coming up with that massive moment in that game after probably his first mistake in the Brugge game?

“Yeah, I said to him – he and Auston set that up quite well! They made themselves look heroic!

“He’s a brilliant player for us”

“He’s a brilliant player for us. He’s got such authority in the game. Firstly, he’s defending. He’s defending strong. He’s good in duels. He reads the game. He’s brave. You go to war with him, he’s such a strong character. Mentally tough. But then he can play. He can play football. He can pass. He knows these lines of pass. He organises the line well. He’s a big, big player for us. As you say, when you see it back, he’s anticipated and reacted to Auston’s touch and just gets an absolutely critical block on it. That’s what you get from your big players, big moments.”

Here’s Brendan’s media conference from Celtic TV ahead of tomorrow’s match against Hibs at Celtic Park…

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