Manager: We didn't capitalise on our dominance in good areas

Celtic F.C.

·22 December 2024

Manager: We didn't capitalise on our dominance in good areas

Celtic maintained their unbeaten domestic start to the campaign with a 0-0 draw against Dundee United at Tannadice, but it was a game that Brendan Rodgers knows his side could and should have won.

The Hoops dominated the match in terms of possession (78%), while they created 17 chances compared to just two from the home side.

OneFootball Videos

However, in terms of shots on target, Celtic had three while Dundee United had two, and that was the most telling statistic in understanding the goal-less draw.

Speaking to Celtic TV after the game, Brendan Rodgers said: “We had enough of the ball and enough of the ball in the areas we wanted t'o, but we just failed to show that little bit of guile and that bit of quality in the final third of the pitch.

'I thought that, especially in the first-half, we didn’t work the keeper enough. We had got into some really good areas but didn’t hit the target.

“The effort was there, the commitment of the players in difficult conditions. I thought we passed the ball really well into the areas we wanted to, but failed to work their keeper enough.”

However, the point means that Celtic are top of the tree for Christmas, nine points clear of their nearest rivals, and the focus now will turn to the Boxing Day clash at home to Motherwell.

“Give credit to Dundee United today, I thought they defended very well in the moments they had to, especially in the second half,” said the manager.

“We gave everything to the game, we want to win every game but we didn’t do that today so we’ll now move on to our next game on Thursday.”