|
Brendan Rodgers; "I was born into Celtic"
|
|
Topic Started: 20 May 2016, 05:06 PM (2,288,061 Views)
|
|
Zurawski 7
|
24 Apr 2017, 10:55 PM
Post #10241
|
Off treasure hunting in Holland
- Posts:
- 17,049
- Group:
- Snr. Member
- Member
- #1,501
- Joined:
- 10 July 2005
|
- Quote:
-
IF you know your history you will be well aware that Celtic have only won a treble on three occasions in the past – in 1967, 1969 and 2001. And you will also appreciate the huge significance of the Parkhead club triumphing in the William Hill Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen at Hampden next month. Prevail against their Pittodrie rivals and the Betfred Cup and Ladbrokes Premiership winners will complete a clean sweep of domestic trophies for only the fourth time. Brendan Rodgers, as a lifelong supporter as well as the current manager, fully understands the magnitude of the feat which his side stand on the brink of achieving in his debut season in Glasgow. The Irishman anticipates the sense of excitement about Celtic winning the treble escalating significantly in the coming weeks and envisages having to blank out the hysteria in order to focus on the task in hand. "I am fully aware of it,” he said. “In fact, I can't get away from it! I'm just going to put ear plugs in for the next month! "Listen, I just don't tend to think too much about it. When you win games there is a consequence of that, so if we beat Aberdeen in the final it'll be 'okay, it's nice.' "I've said before, it's very dangerous to think otherwise. Never get too carried away in this game. I'll repeat it, a slap on the back is only six inches from a slap on the backside." Yet, Rodgers also knows that in recent times Celtic’s record at Hampden had been far from impressive; they lost in the semi-final of both the League Cup and the Scottish Cup to Ross County and Rangers respectively last season when his predecessor Ronny Deila was in charge. The 44-year-old believes that his side have overcome that hoodoo with their three appearances at the National Stadium this term – they beat Rangers and Aberdeen in the League Cup semi-final and final and defeated Rangers in the Scottish Cup semi-final on Sunday – and can approach the final with confidence. He believes the quality of the playing surface helps the high tempo game which he wants the likes of Stuart Armstrong, Scott Sinclair and Kieran Tierney to play. “When I came in here and everyone complained about the Hampden record,” he said. “People said it wasn't a good place for Celtic,” he said. "But I have to give credit to the staff at the stadium and say congratulations to them because I thought the pitch on Sunday was brilliant. “That was our downfall in the home game against Rangers last month when we drew 1-1. But the pitch was perfect and you could see the speed in the ball and how quickly we can move it. With the speed of the team it's a much better tempo for us. "But you have to cope; when you go to Hampden and you want to win things you have to be able to play. You have to be able to perform and deal with pressure. As the season has gone on we've got better and better and better at that." Celtic thrashed Aberdeen 3-0 in the Betfred Cup final in November to lift their first piece of silverware under their new manager. But Rodgers feels their rivals will be determined to redeem themselves after their disappointing showing that day and will provide them with stiff opposition. “Aberdeen will probably feel they have something to prove after the League Cup final,” he said. “I think Derek has done an amazing job there. Since he's come in he's done a fantastic job. He has got his team really organised and playing well. Of course, they will want to come and make a better showing. "But my focus can only be on Celtic. That is three times we've played at Hampden now and we've played at a really, really good level. So the players are happy and have good energy. Thankfully they play the game like they know what they're doing." Rodgers continued: “You all saw the semi-final last year and it was a tough one for Celtic to take. It was good for me to see the joy and happiness on the faces of the supporters on Sunday. “The players are exciting them with the level of performances. The fans are educated now in terms of what we’re doing. We pass the ball back, go side to side, if they can’t go forward they come back out and they are not being defensive. That’s starting a new attack and the players are happy. “The style hasn’t changed but the system has and the players are now happy to flit in and out of these systems and play. Celtic is a very stable club, the club is happy but we have to keep moving forward. I thought we looked a real powerful team in lots of elements in the game.” The 2-0 win over Rangers at Hampden on Sunday extended Celtic’s unbeaten domestic run to 41 games. They will seek to extend that further when they travel to Ibrox to face the same opponents in a league game on Saturday. Rodgers, whose players secured their sixth consecutive Scottish title with an emphatic 5-0 win over Hearts at Tynecastle at the start of this month, is unconcerned about going the entire season without suffering a loss. “We won’t need that to keep our focus on the final,” he said. “We go into the remaining games to try and produce the maximum and get us the win. If it does? Great. If not then fine. “It’s not a massive priority of mine, but that doesn’t say we don’t go into every game to win. We’ve shown that over the course of the season, but it’s not the be all and end all.” links in tags ffs
- Quote:
-
Rodgers is considering resting some of his key players ahead of the cup final but only after this weekend’s sixth Old Firm showdown of the
campaign. “You can’t do it so much ahead of Ibrox,” added Rodgers. “We want to go there and perform well and then there’s a bit of breathing space. I’ll sit down with the staff and see how we can periodise it. Clearly the final is the big focus and we will periodise the team to be ready for that one. “We’re high in confidence and we have been all year. We want to finish the season as strong as we possibly can and we still have work to do.” Rodgers stressed that he is not seeking to play down the historical context of Celtic’s season but is simply wary of the potential for his team to slip up over the coming few weeks if they spend too much time contemplating it. “I am fully aware of it - I can’t get away from it,” smiled Rodgers. “I’m just going to put ear plugs in for the next month! “Listen, I just don’t tend to think too much about it. When you win games there is a consequence of that, so if we beat Aberdeen in the final it’ll be ‘okay, it’s nice.’ But I’ve said before, it’s very dangerous to think otherwise. Never get too carried away in this game. I’ll repeat it, a slap on the back is only six inches from a slap on the arse.” Celtic cruised to a 3-0 victory over Aberdeen in the League Cup final earlier this season and Rodgers expects Derek McInnes’ men to be highly motivated to improve on their display that day when the teams face off again at Hampden next month. “Probably, probably,” said Rodgers. “Derek has done an amazing job there. He has got his team really organised and playing well. Of course, they will want to come down and make a better showing. “But that’s three times we’ve played at Hampden now this season and we’ve played at a really, really good level. So the players are happy and have good energy. Thankfully they play the game like they know what they’re doing. “When I came in to Celtic, everyone complained about the Hampden record. People said it wasn’t a good place for us. But I have to give credit to the staff at Hampden and say congratulations to them because I thought the pitch on Sunday was brilliant. “That was our downfall in the home game against Rangers recently when we drew 1-1. But the pitch was perfect at Hampden and you could see the speed in the ball and how quickly we can move it. With the speed of the team it’s a much better tempo for us. “When you come to Hampden and you want to win things you have to be able to play. You have to be able to perform and deal with pressure. As the season has gone on we’ve got better and better and better at that.” to be ready for that one. We’re high in confidence and we have been all year. We want to finish the season as strong as we possibly can and we still have work to do.” Rodgers stressed that he is not seeking to play down the historical context of Celtic’s season but is simply wary of the potential for his team to slip up over the coming few weeks if they spend too much time contemplating it. “I am fully aware of it – I can’t get away from it,” smiled Rodgers. “I’m just going to put ear plugs in for the next month! “Listen, I just don’t tend to think too much about it. When you win games there is a consequence of that, so if we beat Aberdeen in the final it’ll be ‘OK, it’s nice’. But I’ve said before, it’s very dangerous to think otherwise. Never get too carried away in this game. I’ll repeat it, a slap on the back is only six inches from a slap on the arse.” Celtic cruised to a 3-0 victory over Aberdeen in the League Cup final earlier this season and Rodgers expects Derek McInnes’ men to be highly motivated to improve on their display when the teams meet at Hampden next month. “Probably, probably,” said Rodgers. “Derek has done an amazing job there. He has got his team really organised and playing well. Of course, they will want to come down and make a better showing. “But that’s three times we’ve played at Hampden now this season and we’ve played at a really, really good level. So the players are happy and have good energy. Thankfully they play the game like they know what they’re doing. “When I came in to Celtic, everyone complained about the Hampden record. People said it wasn’t a good place for us. But I have to give credit to the staff at Hampden and say congratulations to them because I thought the pitch on Sunday was brilliant. “That was our downfall in the home game against Rangers recently when we drew 1-1. But the pitch was perfect at Hampden and you could see the speed in the ball and how quickly we can move it. With the speed of the team it’s a much better tempo for us.” LINKS IN TAGS FFS
|
|
|
| |
|
SaMule
|
25 Apr 2017, 08:40 AM
Post #10242
|
- Posts:
- 16,136
- Group:
- Snr. Member
- Member
- #4,033
- Joined:
- 14 June 2006
- Favourite all-time player
- Badr El Kaddouri
|
- Quote:
-
a slap on the back is only six inches from a slap on the arse.
I'm stealing that
|
|
|
| |
|
CaltonBhoy1967
|
25 Apr 2017, 09:35 AM
Post #10243
|
Billy McNeill - "Mr Celtic"
- Posts:
- 19,550
- Group:
- Snr. Member
- Member
- #21,321
- Joined:
- 19 August 2008
- Favourite all-time player
- Danny McGrain
|
- SaMule
- 25 Apr 2017, 08:40 AM
- Quote:
-
a slap on the back is only six inches from a slap on the arse.
I'm stealing that If you had had an Irish Mammy you tended to hear that a lot growing up.
|
|
|
| |
|
Big_dave_greenock_1888
|
25 Apr 2017, 10:30 AM
Post #10244
|
- Posts:
- 9,450
- Group:
- Snr. Member
- Member
- #411
- Joined:
- 22 December 2004
|
What a season weve had so far and BR is the main reason for it. Hes building something special
|
|
|
| |
|
allthewine
|
25 Apr 2017, 10:33 AM
Post #10245
|
- Posts:
- 3,361
- Group:
- Snr. Member
- Member
- #34,530
- Joined:
- 31 October 2015
- Favourite all-time player
- Naka
|
- DKB
- 24 Apr 2017, 12:03 PM
One thing that I've noticed that I would like for BR to change is when the defenders brings forward the ball, they will mostly pass it to a midfielder that comes deep (mostly Brown) and then backs down in their "natural position", instead of them keeping bringing the ball forward, and the midfielder that comes deep to take up the position of the defender, it would make our game even more fluid, as the play will continue going forward instead of the deep laying midfielder having to turn before he can bring the ball forward
It is hard to be sad about the general play, but it is one of those things that could be done better IMO Boyata and Simunovic carried the ball forward quite a few times on Sunday when the opportunity arose.
|
|
|
| |
|
The Edge
|
27 Apr 2017, 05:03 PM
Post #10246
|
- Posts:
- 784
- Group:
- Members
- Member
- #32,590
- Joined:
- 18 June 2013
- Favourite all-time player
- Chris Sutton
|
Todays press conference: https://vimeo.com/215037642
Stuart Armstrong: https://streamable.com/ropew
Callum McGregor: https://streamable.com/pj048
Dedryck Boyata interview: https://streamable.com/6e2ij
|
|
|
| |
|
DKB
|
27 Apr 2017, 06:50 PM
Post #10247
|
- Posts:
- 5,738
- Group:
- Snr. Member
- Member
- #13,393
- Joined:
- 29 December 2007
|
- allthewine
- 25 Apr 2017, 10:33 AM
- DKB
- 24 Apr 2017, 12:03 PM
One thing that I've noticed that I would like for BR to change is when the defenders brings forward the ball, they will mostly pass it to a midfielder that comes deep (mostly Brown) and then backs down in their "natural position", instead of them keeping bringing the ball forward, and the midfielder that comes deep to take up the position of the defender, it would make our game even more fluid, as the play will continue going forward instead of the deep laying midfielder having to turn before he can bring the ball forward
It is hard to be sad about the general play, but it is one of those things that could be done better IMO
Boyata and Simunovic carried the ball forward quite a few times on Sunday when the opportunity arose. which they should
talking about Brown coming deep to take the ball from them with no real pressure put on them by opposition players, he should just move into their starting position and let them go forward, instead of picking up the ball, then turn, and then start to go forward with it/passing it, and then the defenders going backwards again
him picking up the ball is killing the flow of the game, we could start our attack much faster the other way
|
|
|
| |
|
Rex Ford
|
27 Apr 2017, 07:25 PM
Post #10248
|
- Posts:
- 540
- Group:
- Members
- Member
- #4,082
- Joined:
- 20 June 2006
|
- DKB
- 27 Apr 2017, 06:50 PM
- allthewine
- 25 Apr 2017, 10:33 AM
- DKB
- 24 Apr 2017, 12:03 PM
One thing that I've noticed that I would like for BR to change is when the defenders brings forward the ball, they will mostly pass it to a midfielder that comes deep (mostly Brown) and then backs down in their "natural position", instead of them keeping bringing the ball forward, and the midfielder that comes deep to take up the position of the defender, it would make our game even more fluid, as the play will continue going forward instead of the deep laying midfielder having to turn before he can bring the ball forward
It is hard to be sad about the general play, but it is one of those things that could be done better IMO
Boyata and Simunovic carried the ball forward quite a few times on Sunday when the opportunity arose.
which they should talking about Brown coming deep to take the ball from them with no real pressure put on them by opposition players, he should just move into their starting position and let them go forward, instead of picking up the ball, then turn, and then start to go forward with it/passing it, and then the defenders going backwards again him picking up the ball is killing the flow of the game, we could start our attack much faster the other way You've got a point but often we're looking to disrupt the shape of opposition which involves moving the ball with patience and capitalising on them losing concentration. What I like about the style this season is the movement within the team, it makes us tighter but more fluid and harder to pick up as we move forward. Helps when you've got good technical players
|
|
|
| |
|
Dogmeister
|
27 Apr 2017, 07:34 PM
Post #10249
|
- Posts:
- 1,049
- Group:
- Members
- Member
- #23,729
- Joined:
- 3 June 2009
- Favourite all-time player
- Danny McGrain
|
- The Edge
- 27 Apr 2017, 05:03 PM
Brendan takes absolutely no prisoners with the press and their loaded questions
|
|
|
| |
|
Bawman
|
27 Apr 2017, 07:35 PM
Post #10250
|
- Posts:
- 33,093
- Group:
- Senior Member
- Member
- #106
- Joined:
- 1 September 2004
|
- SaMule
- 25 Apr 2017, 08:40 AM
- Quote:
-
a slap on the back is only six inches from a slap on the arse.
I'm stealing that Aye fer a fckn midget.
|
|
|
| |
|
only1henke
|
27 Apr 2017, 07:36 PM
Post #10251
|
- Posts:
- 5,786
- Group:
- Snr. Member
- Member
- #2,185
- Joined:
- 21 October 2005
- Favourite all-time player
- Henrik Larsson
|
- Dogmeister
- 27 Apr 2017, 07:34 PM
- The Edge
- 27 Apr 2017, 05:03 PM
Brendan takes absolutely no prisoners with the press and their loaded questions Thought he was a wee bit more irritated than usual.
|
|
|
| |
|
Jinkys 7
|
27 Apr 2017, 07:46 PM
Post #10252
|
- Posts:
- 13,154
- Group:
- Snr. Member
- Member
- #4,056
- Joined:
- 16 June 2006
- Favourite all-time player
- The King.
|
- only1henke
- 27 Apr 2017, 07:36 PM
- Dogmeister
- 27 Apr 2017, 07:34 PM
- The Edge
- 27 Apr 2017, 05:03 PM
Brendan takes absolutely no prisoners with the press and their loaded questions
Thought he was a wee bit more irritated than usual. He's feeling the pressure!
|
|
|
| |
|
fatboab
|
27 Apr 2017, 08:15 PM
Post #10253
|
Just before the Dawn
- Posts:
- 56,818
- Group:
- Admin
- Member
- #23
- Joined:
- 31 August 2004
|
- only1henke
- 27 Apr 2017, 07:36 PM
- Dogmeister
- 27 Apr 2017, 07:34 PM
- The Edge
- 27 Apr 2017, 05:03 PM
Brendan takes absolutely no prisoners with the press and their loaded questions
Thought he was a wee bit more irritated than usual. He didn't half make sure they knew Halliday should have been sent off. Brilliant to hear him put that right in the centre of the discussion.
|
|
|
| |
|
Wailer
|
27 Apr 2017, 08:34 PM
Post #10254
|
- Posts:
- 57,396
- Group:
- Snr. Member
- Member
- #625
- Joined:
- 9 February 2005
- Favourite all-time player
- Larsson
|
- fatboab
- 27 Apr 2017, 08:15 PM
- only1henke
- 27 Apr 2017, 07:36 PM
- Dogmeister
- 27 Apr 2017, 07:34 PM
Thought he was a wee bit more irritated than usual.
He didn't half make sure they knew Halliday should have been sent off. Brilliant to hear him put that right in the centre of the discussion. "they" "them" "they" "them"
|
|
|
| |
|
Gunner
|
27 Apr 2017, 09:28 PM
Post #10255
|
I'll play anywhere, as long as I get a game!
- Posts:
- 2,371
- Group:
- Members
- Member
- #25,715
- Joined:
- 8 March 2010
- Favourite all-time player
- Diego Maradona
|
- The Edge
- 27 Apr 2017, 05:03 PM
I got the distinct impression he doesn't like Raman
|
|
|
| |
|
Quiet Assasin
|
27 Apr 2017, 09:32 PM
Post #10256
|
..for the maintenance of dinner tables for the children and the unemployed
- Posts:
- 42,247
- Group:
- Snr. Member
- Member
- #24,627
- Joined:
- 18 October 2009
- Favourite all-time player
- 'The Assailant'
|
The answer to the question about Dembele making the Cup final was brilliant
|
|
|
| |
|
Zurawski 7
|
27 Apr 2017, 11:44 PM
Post #10257
|
Off treasure hunting in Holland
- Posts:
- 17,049
- Group:
- Snr. Member
- Member
- #1,501
- Joined:
- 10 July 2005
|
- Quote:
-
THE Ladbrokes Premiership title may have been sewn up by Celtic weeks ago and nothing more than their undefeated domestic record may be at stake heading into their sixth and final meeting of the season with Rangers tomorrow. Yet, that did not prevent Brendan Rodgers from aiming what could easily, if you were of a cynical nature, have been construed as a subtle dig in the direction of his side’s traditional rivals ahead of the league match at Ibrox. It has been suggested there is widespread unrest in the Rangers first team squad as the Glasgow derby approaches due to their new manager Pedro Caixinha suddenly deciding to cut short their summer holiday to just nine days. Caixinha vehemently dismissed that claim yesterday and stressed that no final decision on the length of break his players will receive between their final Premiership game next month and their first Europa League qualifier at the end of June has been made. But Rodgers claimed he could never envisage his men, despite the demands on them to play domestic, European and international football, protesting about the time off they receive. In fact, he revealed they had actually declined to take a break from training and playing. “This season I’ve said to one or two players at times ‘listen I want to give you that period of break’ and they didn’t want it,” he said. “They wanted to work, to still be here. I suppose the environment we’ve fostered here, the spirit’s good, they want to be in here, they want to pre-pare themselves, and that’s quite unique really.” The Irishman also, amid speculation that the wedding plans of two Rangers players had been thrown into disarray by the sudden change to their close season, stressed that ensuring players and their families were content off the park was vital to the harmony of a squad. “Keeping them and their families happy is key,” he said. “You can’t forget that element. It’s a huge element, the human needs of people. It’s all part of management. It’s all part of how you work. Psychologically it’s critical you get players in the right moment.” Rodgers has admitted that the scheduling of the Scotland game against England at Hampden on June 10 – a Russia 2018 qualifier that Celtic players Stuart Armstrong, Scott Brown, James Forrest, Craig Gordon, Leigh Griffiths, Callum McGregor and Kieran Tierney could all be involved in – is a concern for him. His side will get their bid to qualify for the lucrative group stages of the Champions League for a second time underway little more than a month later when the first leg of the second qualifying round is played. However, the 44-year-old, whose side has won four and drawn one of the five Old Firm matches they have played this term, intends to rest his key players following this afternoon’s game to ensure they are in peak condition for the Scottish Cup final next month. He is hopeful that will ensure that individuals like Armstrong, Brown, Forrest, Gordon, Mikael Lustig and Scott Sinclair are fully recuperated when they return to competitive action in the new season. “It will be each individual club’s plan, but, for us we periodize the full season,” he said. “You have to look at each individual and make sure there is a plan, so we’ve created that quite a while ago. So the players know where they are at in terms of their recovery and rest. That’s vital. I’ve got to say this is a group with no ego. “We periodize the whole season so we know when the rest is needed and required. That allows us to get the players at a good level. We know what our objective is for pre-season – qualify for the Champions League and gain our football fitness. Each player will be organised accordingly. "I can only talk about my own players. They deserve a rest. They’ve been incredible and once the season finishes some of them will have some days before they meet up for internationals. Then we are back in on the 19th with some back on the 22nd. How our work’s periodized they will be ready and flying for pre-season.” Rodgers denied this game was meaningless for his Celtic team given they have already won the Scottish title for the sixth season running and expressed hope his side would perform to the same high level as they had against Rangers last Sunday. “You can’t say you have made the Scottish Cup final with a great performance and now this doesn’t matter,” he said. “Every game matters and in particular a Celtic v Rangers game. “But also I prefer the players to have pressure because if you want to succeed and want to be winning things and be at the very highest level you can be in your performance you have to feel the pressure. “What is important is how you cope with it. Our players, through the habits we are creating, through education, through training, are getting better and they bring these confident habits into games. In this type of game you have to deal with pressure, but it is always there.” Caixinha was distressed at the respect which his Rangers players, who are bidding to finish third or fourth in the top flight and qualify for Europe for the first time in six years, showed Celtic at the weekend and is hoping they are far more combative this time around. Rodgers, though, questioned whether they would be able to close his side down. “They haven’t really been a high pressure team,” he said. “If they feel the need to press and disrupt our organisation, it can also be dangerous because behind that there leaves a big space. You saw with our second goal on Sunday. If you leave space then we have speed to break into it. “I am sure their supporters will demand that they be better, they will want to be better, but we want to be better. We want to improve, to be better than what we were in our performance level but they are always great games.” LINKS IN TAGS FFS
|
|
|
| |
|
Zurawski 7
|
28 Apr 2017, 01:23 AM
Post #10258
|
Off treasure hunting in Holland
- Posts:
- 17,049
- Group:
- Snr. Member
- Member
- #1,501
- Joined:
- 10 July 2005
|
- Quote:
-
When the collective effort to trouble your great rival has been so meek as to leave your manager ashamed to show his face in public, the expectation is of a reaction akin to a volcanic eruption. Since time immemorial, the unwritten law of the Old Firm jungle is to beware the wounded animal. Given how passive they were against Celtic last Sunday, the belief that Rangers will, at the very least, turn up on Saturday hardly requires a leap of faith. Brendan Rodgers gets all this. Celtic have won four Old Firms games under him to date but none underscored the gulf between the sides quite like the opening period of that Scottish Cup semi-final victory. He fully anticipates a more taxing time of it at Ibrox. But while the Irishman and his players will be bracing themselves to be asked far more searching questions than in last week's no-contest, they will hardly be hiding under the bed at the prospect of a Light Blue backlash either. Rodgers, bluntly, would relish the prospect of Rangers sounding the bugle and going toe-to-toe with his side. The demand for a high-pressing game that's been widely demanded by the Ibrox rank-and-file in the past few days may be understandable. In Rodgers' view, though, not only would it be alien to the way Rangers have acquitted themselves this season, it might well play right into his side's hands. 'When I have watched the games that have been, they haven't really been a high-pressure team,' he said. 'It is difficult to come away from something that might not be. If you think of the Aberdeen game (a 3-0 win for Rangers at Pittodrie), they were sat in a three-quarter pitch in a pressure situation and in certain situations they would come and press it. 'If they feel the need to press and disrupt our organisation, it can also be dangerous because behind that leaves a big space and you saw it with that second goal (last Sunday). 'If you leave space then we have speed to break into it. I am sure their supporters will demand they be better, they will want to be better, but we want to be better. We want to improve, to be better than what we were in our performance level - but they are always great games.' When it was put to Rodgers on Thursday that a 33-point gap meant this game was as close to a no-pressure Old Firm game as you could ever imagine, his steely glare made the words that followed superfluous. While the destination of the league title was scarcely an issue after Celtic won the first of three league encounters 5-1, each battle for the local bragging rights is important in its own way. The prospect of becoming the first post-war side to complete the league programme unbeaten has been underplayed by the Celtic manager to date but, privately, he'll appreciate that no side is likely to come so close again. More important, though, is the need for him and his players to deal with pressure – both internal and external. Emerging from Ibrox unbeaten for a second time would be another box ticked. One less reason to doubt his players have the mental wherewithal for the heights he hopes they can soon scale. 'No. You can't say you have made the Scottish Cup final with a great performance and now this doesn't matter,' Rodgers added. 'Every game matters and, in particular, a Celtic v Rangers game. But also I prefer the players to have pressure because, if you want to succeed and want to be winning things and be at the very highest level you can be in your performance, you have to feel the pressure. 'What is important is how you cope with it. Our players, through the habits we are creating, through education, through training, are getting better and they bring these confident habits into games. In this type of game you have to deal with pressure, but it is always there. 'There is external pressure as well. When we were getting beat by St Mirren they were banging on my dugout and saying: 'What are you doing?' So it is there. But what you can control, that is the key. You can control all of that. You can control how you prepare and how you perform yourself.' Celtic's history is littered with players who apparently had the ability to cut it only to disappear from view. A lack of mental toughness is normally the answer. One striking feature of Rodgers' reign to date has been his ability to make so many of his charges walk a few inches taller. Where once the pressure of pulling on the jersey threatened to suffocate them, now they are thriving on it. 'If you want to be successful you can't get away from it,' Rodgers continued. 'What you have to do as a coach and as a manager is regulate the pressure, re-direct the pressure so it doesn't affect your flow. But you can't be in a club where there are 60,000 supporters and have the demands of a club like Celtic but not have pressures. 'If you have it, it is about how you use it, how you rebrand it. And winners have that. If you are a loser you might not want it because you don't think you can win. 'When you are a winner and you want to win there is always that element of it, that bubble in your tummy that is anxiety or whatever and it is how you regulate that, how you re-direct the flow of pressure. That is where it comes onto me and I can get the players to stay calm and play football.' This unflappable demeanour extends to selection problems outwith his control. The hamstring strain Moussa Dembele picked up in the semi-final is likely to cost him the remainder of the season. Rodgers' careful management of Leigh Griffiths throughout the campaign to date is likely to minimise the disruption. 'He's struggled this year in terms of injury and regularity of training,' the Celtic manager said. 'But there's no doubt about it, you saw when he came on the other day and played the majority of the game, he's always a threat. 'You don't score 40 goals and not know where the net is. That's the beauty of it. 'Domestically he's top quality in terms of his ability. So there's a little period now for him to step up and show his qualities.' Commendably, Griffiths has kept any complaints about playing second fiddle to the Frenchman to himself. It's the kind of selfless attitude Rodgers demands. His desire to see players improve seems to be shared by the players themselves. 'I've got to say this is a group with no ego,' he added. 'This season I've said to one or two players at times: 'Listen I want to give you that period of break' and they didn't want it. They didn't want it. 'They wanted to work, to still be here. I suppose the environment we've fostered here, the spirit's good, they want to be in here, they want to prepare themselves, and that's quite unique really.' http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4453860/Celtic-boss-Brendan-Rodgers-warns-Rangers.html
|
|
|
| |
|
doctorgerhardkapl
|
28 Apr 2017, 10:03 PM
Post #10259
|
- Posts:
- 477
- Group:
- Members
- Member
- #28,295
- Joined:
- 28 March 2011
|
- Dogmeister
- 27 Apr 2017, 07:34 PM
- The Edge
- 27 Apr 2017, 05:03 PM
Brendan takes absolutely no prisoners with the press and their loaded questions Aye, I really enjoyed both Brendan and Stuart Armstrong slapping down the thick Hun hacks and their oh-so-predictable attempts at trapping them into saying controversial stuff
e.g. "I'm not a mindreader". (Silence as Hun hack squirms).
|
|
|
| |
|
The Plainsman
|
29 Apr 2017, 01:54 PM
Post #10260
|
- Posts:
- 12,936
- Group:
- Snr. Member
- Member
- #866
- Joined:
- 16 April 2005
- Favourite all-time player
- Danny McGrain
|
NEVER. LEAVE.
|
|
|
| |
| 3 users reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
|