“That’s the demand of being a top player,” Jonny Hayes | OneFootball

Celtic’s defeat in Edinburgh last weekend was as poor as Celtic have been in some weeks, and in the aftermath of our Munich heroics, could be understandable to a certain extent…

Jonny Hayes of Celtic scores his team’s second goal during the Premiership match between theRangers and Celtic at Ibrox Stadium on September 01, 2019. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Jonny Hayes was speaking on this subject mid-week before the Aberdeen match in the Sky Sports Scotland studio, alongside Neil Lennon and James McFadden, and says it happens at all big football clubs.

Brendan Rodgers’ men exertion in the Bavarian city was nothing short of magnificent, and they did the club and country proud by restoring some much needed credibility after years of ignominy on the Champions League stage. Celtic gave as good as they got and more out in Germany and have found a blueprint for how to play against the top teams, especially away from home in Europe.

Callum McGregor, Hibs v Celtic. 22 February 2025.Photo: Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

These sort of results can happen after the mental and physical fatigue

Hayes commented that these sort of results can happen after the mental and physical fatigue and output from teams, but stated that those are the demands of being a top player at a big side. “Yeah, unfortunately so,” he said when asked if the Hibs result and performance is understandable.

“I think it happens at every football team. A big game that takes a lot out of you. The travelling, the early kick-off. They’re all factors that can obviously hinder your performance in the slightest.

Brendan Rodgers. Hibs v Celtic. 22 February 2025.Photo: Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

“The standards that the manager demands, he doesn’t accept it”

“The standards that the manager demands, he doesn’t accept it. It’s part and parcel of being a football player here and working under a manager that will demand that the players perform. Although I understand the human element – they’re not robots. That’s the demands of being a top player. You need to go in Tuesday, Wednesday or whatever your playing. Weekend again, Saturday, Sunday. Then again the following Tuesday, Wednesday.”

Jota scores and celebrates his goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Aberdeen at Celtic Park, on 25th February 2025. (Picture by Mark Runnacles)

With Celtic now only playing in the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup, now that our European experience is over this season, hopefully the extra time off can revitalise the troops for that big push towards the end of the campaign.

And with a domestic Treble still up for grabs, there’s plenty to be getting on with and with two matches still to come against our main rivals too, Rodgers will want to rectify that dreadful New Year performance at Ibrox as well.

Yang Hyun-Jun celebrates scoring a goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Aberdeen at Celtic Park, on 25th February 2025 . Picture by Mark Runnacles

Paul Gillespie

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