“We have to make it really difficult for the Rangers,” Brendan Rodgers

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The Celtic Star

·14 March 2025

“We have to make it really difficult for the Rangers,” Brendan Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers held his pre-match media conference at Lennoxtown this afternoon after his squad – minus Callum McGregor – trained ahead of Sunday lunchtime’s Glasgow Derby against theRangers at Celtic Park…

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is seen during training. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“These are games to really enjoy and go on to perform in,” Brendan Rodgers…

The Celtic captain spoke to the media ahead of his manager and confirmed that he missed training this morning as he worked with the physios on his troublesome calf issue which has hampered him over the past few matches.

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However Calmac is planning to train with the group tomorrow and is looking like he’s going to make every effort to start. We’ll cover his media conference separately but first here’s what Brendan was asked by the media and everything that the Celtic manager had to say in response…

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is seen during training. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: Brendan, how’s the squad looking ahead of Sunday?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, all good. We’ve had a good week, so one more day to go. One or two we are just assessing. Callum, obviously he’s had a similar week to last week, and we’ll make a decision on him tomorrow. Obviously, James Forrest is back in the squad, which is really good. Paulo Bernardo is still a little bit away. Liam Scales, he’s obviously had an issue with his cheekbones, so we’re just waiting to finalise whether he needs an operation or not. So he will be doubtful for the game, but apart from that, it’s the same squad.”

Callum McGregor at the final whistle during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Aberdeen at Celtic Park, on 25th February 2025. Picture by Mark Runnacles

Q: We were just speaking to Callum there, and he was talking about the fact that he’ll train with the squad tomorrow, see if there’s any reaction there, he’s willing to play through the pain barrier. Are these the types of games that you maybe do take more of a risk when it comes to players and whether they’re available or not?

Brendan Rodgers: “You always have to manage and weigh up the risk because of what’s left in your season as well. But listen, we’ve played without Callum this season before at various times and done very well. But of course, someone of his significance and someone who provides the tactical balance in our team, of course, I will wait until the very last moment to see if he’s ready. Like I said, it’s following the same sort of pattern as last week, and Callum came in, played 75 minutes and was brilliant last weekend. So we’ll see tomorrow.”

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Callum McGregor. St Mirren v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Saturday 1st March 2025. Photo: Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Q: His leadership skills and his experience in this fixture as well are always key, aren’t they?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, they always are. He’s been absolutely outstanding in all the games I can remember that I’ve played. He’s a fantastic player.”

Q: What sort of game are you expecting on Sunday? Obviously, theRangers went to extra time last night, a long shift for them. Does that come into your thinking about what kind of state they’ll be in come the game on Sunday?

Brendan Rodgers: “Not really. I think from our perspective, it’s about looking to play our game. Our game’s a running game, it’s a pressing game, it’s an intense game. So that’s what we want to play from the very first whistle. I don’t know theRangers squad, I don’t know the mentalities, but I know that obviously they got through their tie and they’ll come to us. As I said, it’s always a mental thing. I had a recent experience with my team at Leicester, where we played Manchester City on 26 December away. Peak Man City. And then on the 28th, virtually two days later, we played peak Liverpool. So it was as tough as you get. And the second game, whenever Liverpool had more rest coming into the game than ourselves, we had virtually no rest going into the game. We won the game 1-0. So physically, of course, it’s exhausting and it’s tiring. But you come into Celtic Rangers game, it’s about your mentality as well.”

Callum McGregor of Celtic celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee United at Celtic Park on February 15, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: Is that where you always need to be wary? Because some people might point to Rangers and say that they may look tired, but you talk about the adrenaline, the lift they’ve had from being able to get through to the Europa League quarter-finals, could well carry them through, along with the occasion of the game on Sunday?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, well, that’s our job, not to ensure that that happens. Like every team, we have to make it really, really difficult for (the)Rangers coming to the game. These are games to really enjoy and go and perform. We never performed anywhere near what the demand of the game was in the last game. So, we’re very hungry to put that right in this game.”

Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers applauds on the touchline at Celtic Park Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Gas Scottish Cup, Quarter Final, Celtic Park,- 09 March 2025 Photo Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock

Q: In terms of your analysis this week, did you reflect on that Ibrox game at all? In terms of showing the players a little reminder of where it can go wrong?

Brendan Rodgers: “No, I think we were pretty clear after it at that time. And I think you only need to see the response. At that time, we were 14 points clear. The response from that game puts us at 16 points clear. So, the response to that defeat was very, very good. Like I said, it was foreign for me because I never experienced that with my teams before in this game. It was more the response to going behind. We didn’t respond to that. You can always go behind in games. Things don’t go your way in a game. But Rangers were a better team on that day. So, we have to accept that. We’ve responded really, really well. And now you get the chance to build on the lead that we have by performing.”

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theRangers interim manager Barry Ferguson reacts during the Scottish Premiership match between theRangers FC and Motherwell FC at Ibrox on March 01, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: Barry Ferguson has obviously gone in there as caretaker. He’s mixed things up a little bit. He’s changed formation. He’s changed personnel. What have you made of Barry Ferguson as Rangers manager? Do you think it will be a different test to the one you faced at Ibrox in January because of the changes he’s made?

Brendan Rodgers: “Listen, I don’t know Barry, but I know him as a player. And I know that he’s gone in and he’ll have a great connection with his supporters. His history at the club, his success at the club. He was a fantastic player for them. For me, if I look purely at the coaching aspect of it, over the course of four games, I don’t see great change. I see the team go 2-0 down against Kilmarnock and come back and win. I see the team lose at home to Motherwell. I see the team go away and get a fantastic result at Fenerbahce. And then I see the team lose last night 2-0 over 90 minutes, but win the tie. I’ve seen the team change the system. Absolutely, a really good tactical change to go 5-4-1 at Fenerbahce. But I still see a lot of the same traits. I think you can probably look at Barry over a longer time. If you’re talking to me about coaching and managing, and you’re talking tactics and management and professionalism and these things, that will be done over a period of time.

“If you’re looking at the short term and him coming in as someone the fans can connect with, of course he looks very happy to be in the job and taking the job, him and his staff. But I think if you’re talking coaching, I see a lot of the same traits. Some very good performances, some inconsistencies, and Barry will see that. Neil and his staff, I’m pretty sure as well. And then over the course of time, they’ll look to change that. But whether he was in for four games or 40 games, a Celtic-(the)Rangers game will always be a tough game. Or a (the)Rangers-Celtic game, whatever way you look at it. But it will always be a tough game.”

Adam Idah of Celtic celebrates after scoring to give them a 2-0 lead Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Gas Scottish Cup, Quarter Final, Celtic Park, – 09 March 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock

Q: When you see theRangers getting through to the quarter-finals last night, they’ve been in quite a few really good runs in the Europa League, obviously. Does that underline how consistent the attitude that Celtic have had over the last few years? Because to be as dominant as you are domestically against a team that is capable of producing these results in Europe, does that underline that this team, this squad, has got this professionalism, this focus that you talk about as well?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, I think it’s congratulations to (the)Rangers, firstly, to get to the quarter-final. I think that people will look in at what Celtic do and see it as being easy. But it’s not easy. You play here, you manage here. It’s high pressure. Every game is a must-win game. That mentality. And like you say, a team, one of our rivals who has done well in Europe, and like you say, get to the quarter-finals, then it shows the consistency and mentality of this team. And how well they’ve been doing. But no, I think we’re very focused on our own selves. And we want to be able to bring our performance to the game at the weekend, and to see if we can extend our lead.”

Daizen Maeda of Celtic is seen during the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Quarter-Final match between Celtic and Hibernian at Celtic Park on March 09, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

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Nicolas Kuhn of Celtic and Jack Iredale of Hibernian challenge for the ball Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Gas Scottish Cup, Quarter Final, Celtic Park, – 09 March 2025 Photo Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock

Q: Just when you look at the points gap at the top of the table, how do you ensure the players don’t have complacency going into this game?

Brendan Rodgers: “For me, it’s very straightforward to paint the nature of this game. It wouldn’t matter if we were 16 points clear or 60 points clear. This is Celtic (the)Rangers. And it’s not a game you want to lose. No matter how far in front you are, or how well you’ve been playing, this is a game that means everything to supporters, to their lives, to their daily life. It means everything to them. And especially on the back of our last performance.”

Q: Brendan, you’ve mentioned it before about returning away fans, but just a word on what that will add to the occasion?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, I’m really looking forward to it. In my first spell up here, they were great occasions. And I think it’s what the nature of this fixture is about. The rivalry, the supporters in both grounds. So having (the)Rangers supporters back in at Celtic Park will be great. Likewise, when we go to Ibrox, we’ll have our allocation as well.”

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Arne Engels hit by coins at Ibrox

Q: Brendan, there was obviously the awful incident with Arne Engels at Ibrox in January, would your hope be that the warnings and safety measures that have been put in place for this weekend are heeded and the game passes off without an incident like that, and the players are respected on the park?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, it’s only logical to add to what I’m sure you’ll write about. But yes, we’re there for the game. We’re there for the entertainment of the football, and that’s what we’ll try to control.”

Jota back at Celtic. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: In terms of your match winners, Jota was speaking about how much he is looking forward to the fixture?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, I think all the players collectively, it’s important in a game like this here for us to play well. But of course, with Jota going away, sometimes when you’re here and you’re playing the fixture a lot, you maybe come away from here and think there’s maybe other derbies that are similar to it. But I’m sure when he left, he recognised the true, real special meaning of the Celtic (the)Rangers game. So yes, it’s a game that all the players will relish, especially the likes of Jota, who has been away. Maybe he never thought he would play in one again, but now he’s back in it and he’ll want to perform, which is great news for us.”

Q: Did you miss these occasions when you were down the road?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, it’s a brilliant game. I obviously tuned into them virtually all when I possibly could. So yes, the build-up to it, the intensity, because it’s modern football. Like I said, it’s people’s lives. It’s what they breathe every single day. And you know that responsibility you have as a manager. And the great privilege that we have for every supporter around the world, the Celtic supporter in every corner of the world, the opportunity to give them that real, real good feeling. So yes, I tuned into them when I was away from here, before I was here, and then now to be back in it, it’s always special.”

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Brendan Rodgers during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 training. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: When you were watching the games on the television as a fan, were you able to watch them without emotion as a football manager? Or like every other fan, did you get caught up in the occasion?

Brendan Rodgers: “No, I would always cheer in the house or wherever I was. So yes, listen, you feel the emotion. That’s what the game is, isn’t it? And in particular, this game is about the emotional connection that you have with your team, the support, and that joy that you get from making everyone happy. So yes, that’s only normal.”

Q: This is the final game of what you described as an ultramarathon for you, starting in November. This would be the perfect way to seal it, I suppose?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, it’s been an incredibly busy period. It’s obviously lightened up a little bit, obviously with the week last week to prepare and this week. But yes, it’s been a really, really busy period that’s gone quickly with lots of games, lots of great performances and results. But we still have a lot of work to do between now and the end of the season. We want to perform well and obviously that will start at the weekend.’

Celtic FC – Full Media Conference | Brendan Rodgers (14/03/25)

27 August 2000: Henrik Larsson celebrates during the Scottish Premier League match against Rangers at Celtic Park. Celtic won the game 6 – 2. Photo: Stu Forster /Allsport