Celtic dismiss discussions about being in a state of ‘continuous crisis’ before their upcoming match against Rangers, countering such assertions made by Brendan Rodgers in the media.
The Celtic manager is confident that his team will improve, even if they fall short in the upcoming match against Rangers. Brendan Rodgers anticipates intense scrutiny if his team doesn’t succeed in the Rangers clash, particularly considering their recent loss of a 10-point lead, culminating in back-to-back defeats in early December – the first in a decade. Despite Rangers trailing by only five points with two games in hand, Rodgers argues that recent setbacks have created a distorted view of Celtic’s situation.
Rodgers rejects the notion that his team is in a constant state of crisis, emphasizing a positive outlook and downplaying media narratives. He acknowledges the importance of the upcoming derby but believes that the media has exaggerated the pressure on Celtic. Despite inconsistencies in their performances, Rodgers sees the big games as opportunities to assert themselves and remains optimistic about the team’s future improvement. He highlights the team’s good feeling after recent wins and expresses confidence in their ability to perform at a high level in crucial matches.
The manager downplays the significance of the upcoming game as defining, pointing out that there are still many more matches to play in the season. Regardless of the outcome, Rodgers emphasizes the team’s focus on playing the style of football they aspire to and seeing where it leads them. As he approaches his 15th iteration of the Celtic-Rangers fixture, Rodgers expresses continued excitement, considering it a unique and unparalleled experience, even surpassing clashes like Liverpool facing Manchester United and Everton. He affirms that the anticipation and thrill of such encounters never diminish.