Photograph: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
The words of Brendan Rodgers are not currently replicated by demeanour.
The Celtic manager’s defence of his club’s position, before the second Old Firm clash of the season, is striking when in black and white. Rodgers was responding to whether or not his team are in need of a statement result on Saturday lunchtime.
“I think if you read or listen to everything in the media you would feel we were in constant crisis mode here,” Rodgers said. “That’s what I feel.
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“It’s another great game for us. I think going into that last game [against Rangers] we were off the back of not a really good result. We had performed well against St Johnstone but didn’t get the result. This time we are going in with a good feeling.
“I think the big games always give you the chance to impose yourself. We have been a little bit inconsistent. When we have been good, we have been good in games. But we need to find that consistency. I think these games speak for themselves. We can go in and perform to a really high level and that will give us a chance to get the result.
“For me we are still in a good place as a team. We are going to get better. We will hopefully improve the squad. We’ll see where we get to at the end of the season.”
Yet something about Rodgers’ delivery and body language lacked conviction. This all came across as rather humdrum or lacking in spark. Crises and criticisms are relative; Celtic have lost only two league games but that is sufficient to hand their rivals title oxygen. Rangers trail by five points while holding two games in hand. “We have already won at Ibrox so whatever the result is this time – and we want to win the game – there are still many more games to play,” Rodgers added. “Our focus is to go and play the football that we want to and see where it takes us.”
If Rodgers is unsettled during this, his second Celtic tenure, it may be with good reason. The Champions League once again proved a wounding experience.
An unsatisfactory summer transfer window has left the club with considerable work to do in January. Not that the manager believes reinforcements – the Aberdeen striker Bojan Miovski is believed to be among his targets – are imminent.
“Not that I’m aware of,” Rodgers said. “I don’t think there are any who’ll be right in at the beginning [of the month]. I think every coach would want them in on the first day but they’ll be in when they are ready to be in and at the level to be in.”
Rodgers has been clear that he needs experienced first-team starters rather than project players. His board of directors can only have taken note.
This will mark Rodgers’ 15th meeting with Rangers. The Northern Irishman at least revels in the status of this fixture. “There’s always an excitement there,” Rodgers said. “You never lose that element of it. They are such special games. Having been involved in Liverpool v Man Utd, Liverpool v Everton and games of that magnitude, I still feel this is the one that really gets the juices going for everything and for many reasons. It’s a special game, a unique game, and you never get tired of it, that’s for sure.”
As Rodgers readily acknowledged, the scene at Ibrox has been rejuvenated by the appointment of the impressive Philippe Clement. Rangers won their Europa League section, lifted the League Cup and last tasted domestic defeat in September. Clement’s team will cross the city with tails up.
“It’s very much about focusing and concentrating on ourselves,” Rodgers said. “I can’t control what Rangers do or what they think, but I can always control what Celtic do, so that’s my focus, and my sole focus in terms of being ready for the game.
“I’m aware of Philippe’s work and where he has worked before. He’s done a really good job and I’m sure he will do a good job at Rangers as well. I’ve seen the team play and you can see where he can come in and just use that experience just to get the team set and working together, which is a key mantra of any good team. They are certainly doing that and working together as a team.”
Rodgers confirmed his first team coach Harry Kewell is on the verge of leaving Glasgow to take up the manager’s post at Yokohama F. Marinos. “It’s great for Harry,” Rodgers said. “I think it’s great if you’ve coaches who have that chance to go on and develop, improve and achieve an ambition. I’ve really liked working with Harry. He’s a good guy, he’s very honest and diligent. His work is very professional. But if there’s an opportunity to go and manage and you want to do it then you go and do it.”
Rodgers’ own future no longer appears straightforward. He would relish the making of a derby point.
