Brendan Rodgers gets Celtic the tin hat on as boss insists he hasn’t ripped up Angeball

Not just Alistair Johnston may require a head covering for Celtic this week.

With so much criticism floating about and doubts over his tactics and alterations to the way the Celtics are playing, Brendan Rodgers might find himself in need of one of the Canadian’s old ice hockey helmets. “I may have to borrow it,” The head of Hoops chuckled.

Although Rodgers dismissed it with a laugh, the Irishman has taken exception at some of the allegations that he has destroyed the Ange Postecoglou Treble winning strategy and replaced the gung-ho, unrelenting rushing with a methodical, passing approach that builds gradually. The statement is just untrue. As for how Rodgers wants Celtic to play, he is confident that nothing has changed. “I’ve heard bits and pieces about slower build up,” he remarked. However, that is not the directive. The goal is to move rapidly and with great speed through the pitch.

“The players are not required to perform any differently than they have in the past. I have heard about the changes to the system and style.

But not a single thing has changed in the system. Not even one. The full-backs pictured here continue to make inroads inside. The outside wingers continue to go.

“Runs on the inside when they occur. When you join a successful team, it’s always the challenge, and I am obviously aware of that.

However, I also understand that the mentality isn’t all that different from how I’ve previously worked. Whether it’s 3-4-3 or something other.

Because my teams are quick and dynamic, neither the system nor the style have needed to be altered. However, we have most clearly missed the players who provide that element to the game.

The staff has changed, but the strategies remain the same. In the summer, Rodgers lost Carl Starfelt, Aaron Mooy, and Jota. Both Cameron Carter-Vickers and Reo Hatate have missed virtually the entire season; the latter is expected to make his Motherwell debut tomorrow.

Johnston has also missed extended periods of time due to injuries, and Daizen Maeda missed games due to international duty. The newcomers have also experienced a decline in confidence recently, which Rodgers believes has contributed to the passing game’s slower tempo and emphasis on safety.

Now that Celtic has been usurped at the top of the table, it is his responsibility to restore it. Rodgers understands that they must quickly rediscover their magic, and if they sense the stress already, they haven’t seen anything yet.

“Trying to give that to the players is the job,” he stated. You know, we’re not even close to the breaking point.

In order to make that forward pass, you must assist the players rather than play sideways. Hear me out: not every pass in the game can be successful.

“In order to score goals and generate opportunities, our game is about progression over the field, but sometimes you have to adjust your attack to attack better with a single ball. That has never altered at all. Naturally, everything was there when it came to moving quickly through the pitch in the lead-up to Christmas.

“The important thing is to be able to keep that aggressive attitude. Returning players can truly make a difference, but it is our responsibility to assist, encourage, and mentor them so that when they do cross the line, they can play with confidence and handle pressure.

“Our play has caused anxiety in the stands and there have been so many games when it should have been dead and buried.”

Now it’s up to the rival Rangers to see how they handle being at the top of the table with a man breathing down their neck. Although the hunters have turned into the hunted, Rodgers doesn’t believe that this change in power would make things easier for his soldiers or shift the tension to the other side of the city.

“I don’t really look at it that way,” he remarked. The team that leads the league after 38 games is deserving of the championship.

“It doesn’t bother me that we were ahead at the start of the season and were again until last week. There was no way that being ahead would alter the way this game was prepared.

“We want to play football with creativity and aggression at a high level. Thus, nothing alters. Thus, first or second? There are external pressures behind those.

Reintroducing Carter-Vickers to the side will be beneficial. The large defender is a powerful and motivating individual. After faltering in past comebacks, Rodgers understands that his health in the latter months of the season will be critical. The center back’s campaign has all but been a write-off.

“It has happened a few times for the likes of Cam,” he stated. Thus, we only need to evaluate him in training, and he is in good health. After that, it really comes down to minute management.

“However, his ability to stay fit can be crucial for us, so we’ll want to keep him healthy until the conclusion of the season so that he can potentially have a strong preseason. as well as the base he never had. Carter-Vickers will confidently and swiftly wrap the ball forward. The midfield’s dynamic play, which will play forward passes on half turns rather than backwards.

“So, that alters the team’s potential appearance. It just requires hard work and the right mindset; apply it to your games to see where it leads. There is no secret recipe.

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