Brendan Rodgers: Patience the key as we look to produce another strong performance

Celtic F.C.

·07 de janeiro de 2025

Brendan Rodgers: Patience the key as we look to produce another strong performance

Celtic are back at Paradise this Wednesday night when they play host to Dundee United, and the Hoops will be aiming to extend their lead at the top of the Premiership table, which currently stands at 13 points.

Brendan Rodgers is anticipating a tough game against Jim Goodwin’s side, who currently sit third in the table and who held the Hoops to a goal-less draw at Tannadice just before Christmas.

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And the Celtic manager again emphasised the importance of patience on and off the pitch throughout the course of the 90 minutes.

Speaking at Lennoxtown today, he said: My job is to create an atmosphere that players here, both in the training centre and at Celtic Park, and beyond that, can flourish and play in the style that the fans demand here. And that is all about a positive mentality, and that connection between both.

'Celtic fans are amazing for the team and for the players, and when everything’s right up there.'

“There are going to be moments, and over the course of the coming months, where teams will be sat in deep and you not always be able to play forward, and you have to come out and restart the attack again.

“I never ask the team to play around the houses and not be penetrative, and I think you see that in the goals that we score and the chances we create.

“But it’s an observation. I think everybody has the right to air their emotion and their feeling, and that was my feeling from the weekend, but now we look forward.

“I’ve mentioned it sporadically over my time here, just because I know what the power of this club is when everything is together and that unity’s there. And also what it feels like for the player to be on there and getting that amazing support.

“And off the back of the Rangers game and not playing anywhere near what our level is, I can understand that wee bit of fret and worry, but it’s something that’s very important.

“My priority with the players is the performance level and that comes from training and the games, and creating that atmosphere the players can thrive in, so that’s all I’m here to do – to manage and be the best that I possibly can be for Celtic in my time here, however long that is, and, of course, I will stand up for that.”

In 20 games this season, Celtic have won 17, drawn twice – including the game against Dundee United – and suffered just one defeat, which came in the recent Glasgow derby at Ibrox.

In the process of establishing a 13-point lead at the top of the table, the Hoops have also scored 55 goals and conceded seven, with just two of those seven goals coming at Celtic Park, in the 2-2 draw with Aberdeen back in October.

And while anticipating a tough match against Dundee United on Wednesday, Brendan Rodgers is confident his team can continue their strong league form.

“You see where they sit in the league,” he said. “They clearly are getting results and performances and doing very well.

“They made it very difficult for us up at Tannadice. It was difficult conditions and everything else but, still, we couldn’t make the breakthrough that day.

"But I would like to think that this will be a totally different game – playing at home, availability of players, good performance at the weekend, and now look to back it up.”