Brendan Fraudgers!

So what were the reasons we didn't manage to come out of the traps early enough, tonight?

 

It was 0-0 at half time, we were very lucky to hang on to 0-0 till half time.
Obvious to me Rogic and Biton were anonymous the whole of the first half.. Should have whipped them off at HT and brought on Armstrong and Griffiths IMO. I was amazed to see McGregor come on.

 

They were too organised and prepared for it, and in truth they started at a pace that we couldn't live with..

 

Aside from my comment on the last 15minutes, yeah can't really fault Rodgers for tonight. the two goals are what they are.
Just not good enough is the answer, the solution is to back the man in January.


All credit where it is due though, we looked defensively a nightmare in the qualifiers, since then we look solid as * - bar Kolo having an off night, but these things unfortunately happen.

Onwards and upwards, he is doing a great job for us.

 

The players looked scared to me. The passing was woeful all night.

 

That's quite disappointing. I guess it shows they definitely did their homework on us.

 

ALTHOUGH Brendan Rodgers couldn’t fault his players for effort, he admitted that Borussia Monchengladbach deserved their victory in tonight’s UEFA Champions League meeting in Paradise.

Despite Celtic's best endeavours in front of a passionate home support, the classy Bundesliga side left Glasgow with maximum reward thanks to second-half goals from Lars Stindl and Andre Hahn.

Speaking after the game, the manager said: “I thought the best team won. There is no argument about that. My players gave absolutely everything tonight. We were up against a top side and our only disappointment was the two goals.

“They didn’t create so much even though they looked dangerous at times on the counter-attack, which a lot of German sides will. We gifted them two goals really.

“I think the players gave absolutely everything into the game. We set out to press them but you see at that level of player that if you are not quite there in your pressing they can play through and round it.

“We had some good spells in the game as well, but we were just beaten by a side that’s very good, technically very strong, fast, with good power and quality. We have no complaints.

“Sometimes no matter how good we might be, there are still elements we need to compete consistently at this level. I have said that right from day one here.

“We are in a process of building something here. It was absolutely brilliant to qualify for this level, and we have given absolutely everything as anyone can see, but sometimes the teams are better than us and that’s no disrespect to our players who know they have given everything.

“This is a good side. You have a World Cup winner in midfield who played and a number of other very good players so you have to hold up your hands, be honest and say we lost to the better team.”

Both of the goals conceded by the Scottish champions were the result of defensive mistakes, with Stindl lashing home after Kolo Toure failed to shepherd the ball out for a goal-kick, and Hahn running through on goal and finishing emphatically following an errant pass.

“That is the frustration,” said the Hoops boss. “If you don’t concede those goals you probably find yourself 0-0 or you give yourself a chance to win the game as it progresses, but that’s the only frustration of the night. The players poured everything into the game and I felt some were outstanding individually within it.

“Again, I thought Scott Brown showed that’s he a real good player at this level and one or two of the other boys did very well, but if we make the mistakes then, of course, that’s something which gets punished heavily at this level.

“We have seen it in every game we've played. You make the mistakes and top players with outstanding quality will hurt you which is what happened and that’s our only frustration.”

The result leaves Celtic bottom of Group C on one point and they now face an uphill task to secure European football beyond Christmas, whether that’s in the Europa League or the Champions League.

“It’s very difficult of course," said the Irishman. "This was earmarked as a group that was always going to be tough for us away from home at this level and the home games were going to be important for us.

“It wasn’t to be tonight. We will have the next game over there which will be tough again and we have to do the very best we possibly can.”

While disappointed not to have given the Celtic supporters a win to celebrate, Brendan Rodgers highlighted that this is still the opening chapter of his long-term project in Paradise, acknowledging his team are still learning how to compete at this level.

And the immediate focus for the manager and his players will turn to booking a spot in the first domestic final of the season in Sunday’s Glasgow derby at Hampden.

“That’s the process, it won’t happen overnight," he said. "We have to find a way of performing consistently at this level, and there are certain attributes you need within the team in order to do that, and that’s something myself, the staff and the club know. You can’t click your fingers overnight and achieve something, we have to build towards it.

“The biggest thing the supporters can take from it is the players gave absolutely everything as they did. Yet again they created an incredible environment for us to play in and we are disappointed we couldn’t give them the result they deserved for their backing, but we have a chance at the weekend to go into our next game and get to a domestic final.”

 

Can he cut it though?


Oops, sorry. Wrong thread..

 

Wrong forum

 

post match press conference
https://streamable.com/n5kc

 

The shape in the first half was brutal to watch.

Full backs pushing right up the pitch with the 'wingers' central more times than wide, and tracking runners centrally.

Acres of space you just can't afford to give away at this level.

 

BR on upcoming Betfred Cup Semi-Final: "You have to perform and hopefully get a bit of luck along the way. Then you should get a result."


BR on last Derby: "We played well, it was a brilliant performance. We'll go into this game on a neutral ground looking for similar."



BR: "Winning was a great feeling. We're all looking forward to this one and hope to take our high performance level into the game."




BR: "I'm enjoying it in Glasgow, it's been brilliant so far. Any Rangers fans I have met have been respectful to me."



BR: "Both sets of fans can be passionate, love their clubs but we live together and respect each other."


BR: "We'll be prepared for a tough game. We anticipated that last time but our performance level was very high in attack and defence."



BR: "They have some talented players and we respect that but our focus is on ourselves and bringing our A-game."


BR on silverware hopes: "It's our first chance to win a trophy and that makes it a priority."



BR on visiting Hampden for first time: "Looking forward to going to the home of Scottish football. The big pitch will suit our intensity."




BR on Kolo Toure: "He's a wonderful player. The making of the man is that he came out straight after the defeat and held his hand up."



BR: "As a 35 year-old, he could have gone anywhere in the world but he chose to play at a top European club."


BR: "He's been absolutely brilliant and is a strong guy mentally."

 

One thing I'm thinking about is the Kolo situation.

If he's fit, he should play, for obvious reasons:

Experience. No one in that position is even close to big KT.

Lack of cover. Who can fill in? Jozo looks like he will possibly be a great addition but how many games has he played since he came back from injury?

We also have to remember he's so young and never experienced anything like what he will tomorrow... Is it worth the gamble when it's a knockout tournament and big Kolo, if close enough to 100%, could give us at least a half to steady the ship and keep everyone cool.

Only reason I ask is that Brendan threw our right back in against Barca and it was a big mistake. Huge difference between the teams, obviously. But we can still ask questions...

If Jozo gets thrown in, he might do brilliantly... I just don't think it's worth the risk if Kolo can give us at least 55-60 minutes (assuming he's carrying a knock).

Just wondering everyone's thoughts?

 

If Toure is carrying any sort of knock, then we should rest him and play Simunovic.

The Rangers aren't a good team, but the passion will still be there and Simunovic should look at this as the perfect opportunity to prove himself.

 

I'd hope he would prove himself but how many games has he played in the year? He can't be match fit...

Although I don't really think he'd need to be at his best to deal with what they've got. You just never know how anyone will react to the atmosphere (which he's not experienced here) and the tempo the game will probably be played at and the types of tackles that may be flying in.

If Kolo can give us an hour, I'd be happy. Hoping he's 100%-though.

 

I think we can play in such a way that they won't be able to just cut us down with tackles. The referee should be taking care of that too.

 

Hoping so mate... I just think that Jozo hasn't played too many games. Wouldn't want to throw him in, if he isn't ready (especially in a knockout tournament).

If he plays, he'll probably prove me wrong. I am just sharing my worries.

 

I can see where you're coming from and it's a valid point. Lack of match fitness could cause us to concede a sloppy goal or two. I just can't see us not scoring more than them with the options we have in attack.

 

If Jozo does start, I'm confident he'll be fine. Plus, it's as good a time as any to play him in a big game and see how he handles the atmosphere and intensity.