Brendan Rodgers branded ‘preposterous and absurd’ over hit out at Celtic fans
Brendan Rodgers has been criticised for his “absurd remark” to Celtic fans after their win against St Mirren, according to Graham Spiers.
The Bhoys won 3-0 in a comfortable outing against St Mirren thanks to goals from Auston Trusty and a brace from Nicolas Kuhn.
However, the former Leicester City coach was criticised in his latest post-match conference after he urged the fans to “clap the players” rather than panicking if they play backwards to restart attacks.
He said: “You only need to look at the facts and how this team plays to know that they’re an attacking team, a creative team that creates goals and scores goals.
“So, when we’ve decide to go back to change the point of attack. Clap the players. Don’t panic. Don’t start getting onto them. Cos we’re trying to get another attack” [via Celtic FC Youtube channel].
This was criticised by Scottish Times journalist Spiers, who said on X: “I’m a fan of Brendan Rodgers as a manager – with thorough justification – but this was a preposterous comment he made today. Of course, supporters are not going to clap the endless ‘back and start again’. An absurd remark”.
Celtic players are being backed by Brendan Rodgers
Football Insider opinion
Rodgers’ side now have a 13-point advantage at the top of the leaderboard, despite their torrid display against Rangers in the Old Firm Derby on Thursday (2 January).
Celtic are firmly on course for another league title as their advantage at the top of the table continues to grow.
Several players faced criticism last week, including Reo Hatate, whose performance in the Old Firm derby was deemed underwhelming by some.
In response, the manager has publicly defended his squad, standing by his players and pushing back against the negative commentary.
This response demonstrates the manager’s character and unwavering support for his team, regardless of external opinions.
Barring a significant downturn in form, his team appear destined to be crowned champions again. However, the manager is not resting on his laurels and is actively working to strengthen the squad.
There are strong links to former captain Kieran Tierney, with speculation growing that the manager is keen to bring him back to the club.
This move would underline his determination to compete for every trophy and maintain a high standard of performance.
Improving squad depth is critical as Celtic remain active in Europe. The extended fixture schedule means they will continue to compete in the Champions League until the end of January.
Rodgers’s call for fan support is entirely justified, as the team will need all the backing they can get to push for a place in the Champions League last 16 while continuing their pursuit of domestic and European success.
In other news, Celtic are prepared to accept an offer for their star player if a bid is deemed suitable.
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