Last night, the manager was brilliant. On the pitch and off it. Before, during and after the game he showed why he’s The Man.
What a performance.
I did a piece during the week I think it was where I talked about the Ibrox managers and how the media has loved these guys and how Celtic bosses never get that credit although we’ve had exceptional men – not just managers but men – in the dugout, people of the highest quality on a personal level, good, genuine decent human beings.
Rodgers is one of those guys, but even accounting for Ange Postecoglou and Martin O’Neill he’s also the best media performer we’ve had here in my lifetime.
He loves being in front of the media, partly, I think, because he handles them like a master.
So last night before the game they wanted to ask him about the fans. He kept the subject fixed firmly where it belonged, on the game and the players and the importance of the night. That’s where the focus of everyone inside the dressing room and the coaching team was and he wasn’t going to discuss anything else with the press.
During the game I cannot think of a decision he got wrong.
One of the reasons I was so delighted to see Brendan return is that he is a tactical genius, and can change a game mid-match better than any boss of the club I’ve ever seen, and last night he did it again at a point in the game where they had all the ball and looked like they might get in front, and from there you got the sinking feeling they might have scored a few more. He saw what he had to do to stop it.
And he made the changes that did stop that.
It seems counter-intuitive to substitute an attacking player for a defensive one if you’re at home and need a win, but before he made that change, we had ceased to be an attacking force anyway as they were pressing so high.
That’s was the pattern we needed to break and the system and the players in it weren’t going to do that, we’d have invited pressure until we conceded the third.
So, he shifted things around.
Going to three at the back allowed us to play two through the middle, and suddenly they had something to think about again as our fullbacks got up the pitch and Callum dropped deeper and the three centre backs held their forwards at bay.
Suddenly we weren’t pegged back anymore, their midfield again had holes in it and we were threatening again without having given anything away.
It was masterful, more than just shuffling the players as other managers have done, more than like-for-like changes.
In the aftermath of the game the only thing it seemed to me that some of the hacks wanted to do was find a negative.
Oh, but it was only a draw and we needed a win. Had he seen the Lazio score? What did that mean for us in Europe? Was this run of no wins ever going to end?
He looked genuinely affronted by those questions and others.
And he made sure not to answer a one of them, making it clear that all he wanted to discuss was the quality of the performance on the night.
Not its implications, not a record for which he is only partly responsible, or any of the other stuff which is important and good for the gossips but actually does nothing but take the credit away from the players.
He wasn’t going to permit that and I was delighted that he didn’t.
“The team and the performance is what I’m focused on and interested in,” he said. “We’ve taken our first point, arguably we should have more. But my focus is on the performance and I thought it was outstanding.”
What quality this man has, and I hope he continues to keep the focus on the good things we’re doing rather than being dragged where the hacks want him to go.
This team deserves better than to let anything overshadow the way we’re playing right now.
I couldn’t agree more. The performance in the first half was outstanding. The two goals were the stuff of dreams in their creation and execution. A very creditable result against a top drawer ream. Celtic have a top level tactician and motivator in Brendan Rodgers.
Brilliant Brendan – Treating them (Media) with the contempt that they deserve…
The last remaining few Celtic fans that still financially facilitate them (Media) should take a leaf out of his book and treat them the way Brendan does – with contempt – by way of no more financial purchasing support !
Like any Celtic manager, he has a hostile press to deal with, always looking for some quote to crucify him with. By contrast, iBrox dugout dwellers get the slavering fanboy treatment most of the time – unless they are given the blue light to turn on them and hound them out. I’m old enough to remember when John Greig finally got the bullet – I recall in the distant days of the pre-internet world that the Daily Record announced it like it was a death among the Chinless Wonders of Windsor.
Right on the button!
The stance that Celtic take regarding press conferences is bewildering. I can’t for life of me understand why we hand them an open door policy.
I know the old adage about bad attention being better than none but what about bad journalism, journalists and pre determined anti Celtic agenda bias. Whatever happened to journalistic standards?
Kick ’em out and for some lengthy time. Maybe they’ll use it wisely, I doubt it, to allow themselves time to re-educate themselves about objectivity.
Well managed Brendan. HH
I said a couple of weeks ago that Feyenoord were better than our game, I feel we had our best chance when we played them earlier, I hope I’m wrong. BR , is a tactical genius but don’t expect any praise from the ibrox fan club. James, can I change the subject? . Did you hear captain Callum talking about the condition Matt O,Riley returned in pre season, I wish Lee Griffiths would have looked after himself in the same way as he had so much talent and it ended way to soon .
I no longer have any concerns about Rodgers staying with ourselves for the long term.
A dangerous statement to be making in such a uncertain footballing world, where things can change so quickly.
When you look at the development already made within the games of Oreily and scales this season alone so far, then as a club we are in safe hands, unless of course, the board wish to push the self destruct button?
A big improvement is already on show from last season, especially within CL level which only bonds well for the future.
When you take into account that, yang, tilo, Holm, Paulo, iwata, rocki and largerman and Oh, still have to find there feet yet under Rodgers, and the challenge to them remains as developing to the standard required just to gain game time.
When them opportunity’s arise, it still remains the challenge of staying at the consistency levels required, just to keep hold of the position.
This is looking like the process currently in play for ourselves, which is a very damaging prospect the scum have to look upon, when they watch on with envy at ourselves.
Some of the football played last night was truly outstanding.
To be able to break down one of the meanest defences in European football, in the manner that we did, on 2 outstanding occasions with beautiful team football is some achievement by any team.
The question will soon arise as to who the better manager for ourselves is/was between Ange and Rodgers?
Still believe Rodgers will eventually win the vote comfortable enough, if not so already imo
Celtic’s problem is no competition, apart from Rangers. Over 40 years since a team from outside of Glasgow won the title. Even Holland has 3 teams capable of winning the Premier League. As for scaring Real Madrid LoL. One hope, and God forbid a British League. Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Spurs, Aston Villa, recent winners in Scotland. Real opposition, but of co relegated. Better a large fish in Scotland, than a minnow in England
Brendan has good manners. He went over to shake Simeone’s hand but to no avail.
Was Simeone distracted or just plain rude. He did the same to Jurgen Klopp. a well mannered gentleman. Good manners cost you nothing, use them ……
Celtic’s problem is no competition, apart from Rangers. Over 40 years since a team from outside of Glasgow won the title. Even Holland has 3 teams capable of winning the Premier League. As for scaring Real Madrid LoL. One hope, and God forbid a British League. Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Spurs, Aston Villa, recent winners in Scotland. Real opposition, but of course you would be relegated. Better a large fish in Scotland, than a minnow in England