Manager: I'm really pleased with how well the team played | OneFootball

Season 2025/26 got off to the best possible start for Celtic, as the champions struck late with a Luke McCowan goal to take all three points from their opening game of the season.

The Celts were the dominant team over the course of the match, and created numerous opportunities which, on another day, would have resulted in a more resounding scoreline.

The three points, which were secured with only a few minutes of the match remaining, were well deserved for the Hoops, and speaking to Celtic TV after the match, manager Brendan Rodgers praised his side for their performance at Paradise this evening.

"We're very pleased." Brendan said. "It's always nice to win at home on Flag Day. To play as well as we did makes me really pleased for the team.

"St Mirren are so well organised and you see the results they get at home and away, and how difficult they are to play against.

"We had to be patient when moving the ball at speed and with tempo, and we did that.

"We would have scored more goals but their keeper had a great day and we were unfortunate in hitting the bar and the post.

"Overall it was a really pleasing performance."

Brendan Rodgers' full post-match interview is available to watch below.

Fixtures

Celtic Vs. St. Mirren - Sun, Aug 3rd 2025, 16:30 Final score: 1 - 0