Brendan Fraudgers!

BR: "It was a great win for us. Tough game. Derek has done a great job here."


BR: "Celtic have come here and lost before so it was a brilliant win in many aspects."


BR: "Not always going to score four goals. Game should have been out of sight but we have that mentality to fight and win."

BR on clean sheets: "Our defence will get better the more time we work together. You have to defend the game."

BR: "Stability across the team is good. Defending is allowing us to get the ball and create chances."


BR on KT: "Devastated for him. Probably after Christmas before he's back."



BR: "He's the type that will come back better and stronger."



BR: "He's a bit old school. He'll get on with it and be ready to play again."


BR on Brown's return to Scotland: "Told me during the week, we talked, great opportunity."


BR: "He's always stood up for his country and I don't know too many bad games he's had for Scotland."


BR: "He has great admiration for Gordon Strachan. Have to applaud that. Scotland will be a better team if he plays."

BR on today's game: "It's a tough place to come. Lots going on in the game."


BR: "One or two funny decisions but it was a tough, physical game."



BRENDAN Rodgers was delighted at his players’ fighting spirit after they deservedly recorded a 1-0 victory away to Aberdeen to stretch their lead at the top of the table to 10 points, with a game in hand.

Tom Rogic’s sublime half-volley from the edge of the box midway through the first half proved decisive in a hard-fought match at Pittodrie.

But Celtic should have spared themselves any anxious moments late in the match as they spurned a number of excellent opportunities, particularly in the period after the interval.

The Hoops held firm, however, to claim the three points which maintains their unbeaten start to the domestic campaign.

Speaking after the game, the manager said: “That was a great win, it was a tough game. I have said before that Derek has done a great job here. He has galvanised the club. Any game I listened to over many years as a young supporter on the radio or watched here at Aberdeen, it’s always been a tough game and Celtic came here and lost twice last year.

“It was a brilliant win for us in many aspects. I said to the players a few weeks ago, you have to learn to win 1-0 as you are never always going to score four, five or six goals. But if you have that spirit and collective mentality to fight, it gives you a great chance in any game.

“The game should have been out of sight. That’s the reality of it. We scored a very good goal and had two big chances in the half, and in the opening 15 minutes of the second half we created opportunities where we needed to be more clinical. Of course, when you don’t score, it can become a wee bit hairy at the end.

“It was real a good game, a great atmosphere and the pitch was really nice and, of course, when you win, it’s a great feeling.

“We have only been working together a short time,” he continued. “If I assess it after 10 games, I have been really pleased with the progress of the squad. There is a great connection now within the club in terms of the supporters, the team - everyone is moving in the one direction and we are working very well.

“We still got a lot of evolution there with the club on and off the field, and there are still major improvements we can make as a club to keep pushing forward.

“What we showed today is that we can win every game of football. What I know with this group now is that they can have confidence they can out-play a team, they can out-pass a team, they can press a team and if it’s a fight they can stand up and be counted and be aggressive. That spirit is a great thing to have.

“We have come to some real tough places and won. This week tells you the story of the team. We won the League Cup semi-final 1-0, we had a tough game away at Dingwall where the squad was used and we won 4-0 and then we came to Pittodrie, which is always a tough game for any team and Celtic in particular, so to win here is a really good moment - but it’s only 10 games.”

Jozo Simunovic and Erik Sviatchenko were outstanding in the heart of the Hoops backline as the Dons launched a late barrage of long balls and crosses into the box, helping the Hoops keep their fifth successive clean sheet in domestic football.

“In the summer, I said it will get better and better,” said the Hoops boss. “The more time we work together, the players understand the ideas. It’s not just about opening up and playing, you have to defend.

“Fundamentally, this is a philosophy about pressing and defending – you have to defend the game. From that, you hope to get more of the ball than the opponent, create chances and score goals. The stability across the team is very good.

“It’s allowing us to defend collectively but also allowing us to get the ball and create chances. I felt the two centre halves were outstanding - very good, competitive, strong and played when they good.

“Emilio Izaguirre came in this week, playing two games out of three, and it was a great performance by him. Mika (Lustig) is seven out of ten every week. Across the team, it was a great performance.”

Missing from the Celtic rearguard was Kieran Tierney, who suffered a blow this week when he collected an ankle injury in training and that will keep him sidelined for the next two months.

“Sadly, he will probably miss the next couple of months,” said the manager. “It won’t be until after Christmas when he is back.

“I’m devastated for him because he’s a young player with so such maturity and quality. He has been improving with all the games he has been playing and training every day.

“It’s obviously sad for Scotland to have a young player missing, but Kieran is the type who will come better and stronger.

“He will need an operation on his ankle and what not. It’s sad for him but he’s a positive boy and he’s a bit old school - he will get on with it, roll his sleeves up and come back and be ready to play a big part for us in the second half of the season.”

 

We almost got * Moyes :brendy:

 

BR on team news: “Kolo has been injured for a little while so he’s still not available.

BR: "Simunovic we have been managing his games, and with it being so close to Saturday’s game, too tight a turnaround."


BR: "Leigh took ill on Sunday morning. He didn’t train with us.


BR: "He felt better & was due to come in today but the medical team felt it better he didn’t come as he has little virus."


BR: "It was unfortunate as he wasn’t well. He is feeling better now and hopefully he will be ready for the weekend."


BR: "It’s unfortunate but you can’t control it and we hope those players can get back.


BR on match: "2nd best in last game, one of very few games in terms of performance levels we fell below the standards we had set."



BR: "For us, the competition in the #UCL has been a brilliant experience for us and this will prove to be a great foundation."



BR: "For now, we want to come here and the only thing we are concentrating on is giving everything in the game."


BR: "There is no doubt we can win here, or else we wouldn’t be here."


BR: "About trying to put an away performance in & if we do that then we know there is possibility for getting a good result."


BRENDAN Rodgers insists Celtic can earn a positive result tomorrow night away to Borussa Monchengladbach in the UEFA Champions League - but only if they raise their performance levels from the corresponding fixture in Paradise earlier this month.

The Hoops were defeated 2-0 by the German side in Glasgow as they failed to rediscover their form from the epic 3-3 draw with Manchester City in the previous group game.

By losing to Andre Schubert’s team, the Scottish champions dropped to the bottom of Group C on one point, making it more vital that they harvest maximum reward when the sides go head-to-head in Borussia Park.

And while aware of the scale of the task facing his charges as they continue to adjust to the demands of Champions League football, the manager believes his team are capable of picking up three points in Gladbach and continuing their European adventure beyond Christmas.

He said: “We were second best in the last game, there is no doubt about. It was one of the very few games in terms of performance levels we fell below the standards we had set.

“For us, the Champions League competition this year has been a brilliant experience for us and this will prove to be a great foundation for us over the next few years. The experiences of this tournament and playing against the great teams we have faced will help us for the future.

“For now, we want to come here and the only thing we are concentrating on is giving everything in the game. There is no doubt we can win here - if we perform to the level we know we can then, of course, it’s a possibility for us or else we wouldn’t be here.

“We are only concentrating on the next game and the next game is going to be a tough game for us. We need to ensure that we don’t make mistakes. We didn’t play so well in the last game and they probably played at a level they hadn’t for a number of weeks.

“With that in mind, if we don’t make errors in the game we can still get something from it. For us, it’s about trying to put in a performance away from home, and if we do that then we know there is possibility of getting a good result."

The Irishman continued: “(In Glasgow) they reinforced they are a very good side. Even with players missing, the level they have been developing over the past number of years is one we are trying to get to.

“I experienced it in the Champions League even in the Premier League in England, it’s a step up in quality and speed. For us, we are taking a couple of jumps into that level. There are very few opportunities at this level and you have to take them whilst remaining very solid and super competitive in your game.”

“We are playing to win, that’s the key focus for us. We are not playing the game not to lose, we want to win. They have played four league games and haven’t scored, and if you look at our game, as well as they played, if we don’t make mistakes there is a possibility of them not scoring either.

“But we know if we want to compete at this level at this moment, we need to have our A-game, and there was no doubt in the last game they were better than us overall over the course of the game.

“We know if we don’t get a result here then we know it’s going to be difficult for us in the other games. But we arrive into it full of confidence, and what I have seen from this team is that they learn and they learn well and hopefully in what will be a tough game for us we can get a good result.”

Celtic must do without the services of a number of key personnel against the Bundesliga side. Kieran Tierney misses out following the long-term injury he collected last week, while the game has come too quickly for Kolo Toure as he continues his recovery from his spell on the treatment table.

Jozo Simunovic didn’t travel to Germany, given the short turnaround from Saturday’s win away to Aberdeen as his comeback from a lengthy lay-off is managed carefully. And Leigh Griffiths has also failed to make the trip after falling ill on Sunday with a virus.

The Hoops boss said: “Kolo has been injured for a little while, around a week or so, so he’s still not available for the game. Simunovic, as you have seen over the last three or four weeks, we have been managing his games in terms of coming back.

"With it being so close to Saturday’s game, he just can’t physically turn around in time to be ready for this one and that’s just an ongoing management issue with him.

“Leigh took ill on Sunday. He didn’t train with us. He felt better and he was due to come in today but the medical team just felt it best for him to stay away as he had a little virus, we were conscious that he didn’t set off any other members of the team.

“It was decided he wouldn’t train with the group or travel, and he will obviously be in on his own at Lennoxtown getting ready for the weekend. It was unfortunate as he wasn’t well, but he is feeling better now and hopefully he will be ready for the weekend.

“With all those players, Kieran and the other guys, it’s unfortunate really, but you can’t control it and it’s something you can’t worry about. We hope those players can get back as quickly as they can.

“With the likes of Jozo, it’s an ongoing issue with him, as it’s been with Kolo in terms of his situation we pretty much knew about those two. Obviously Leigh’s situation was different but we have to manage that as best we can.”

 

BRENDAN RODGERS claims Celtic can pull off a Champions League miracle by beating Borussia Monchengladbach, Barcelona and Manchester City.

The Hoops go into tonight’s clash in Germany sitting at the foot of Group C with just one point from three matches.

But manager Rodgers believes his men can rise from the dead to progress to the last 16 with a series of incredible results.

Their most immediate challenge has become even more difficult as Kolo Toure, Jozo Simunovic, Kieran Tierney and Leigh Griffiths are all sidelined.

Rodgers said: “The next three games are all tough but we can win them.

“One thing you learn in football is that the impossible can become the possible.

“Realistically, we’ll go into them as underdogs. The only way we can challenge that is to put in the maximum effort and play tactically and with concentration to the highest level.

“I know the superpowers we are competing against, so you need to have a sense of reality as well, but it shouldn’t stop our ambition to want to be the very best we can be.

“That is the standard I need to drive and I want to drive at the club in every aspect on and off the field. We have to strive to get there. In order for that, there is a lot of work to do.

“The aim for me coming here was to really build the club, and for us that means qualifying for the Champions League, getting out of the group stage and seeing how far we can go. We need to have that ambition. It is a building process over the next three or four years, to get into a position where we arrive at these games knowing we have a great chance of getting the result.

“I would hope Celtic are a last-16 team in two or three years.”

Rodgers reckons his side have already been taught some valuable lessons in Europe.

He said: “The game against Gladbach at home was disappointing because we didn’t play out of our shape. It was the least effective that we’ve played.

“When the players watched it and analysed it, they learned.

“If you make the slightest mistake at this level, you get punished for it.”

Mikael Lustig or the recalled Dedryck Boyata could come into contention to partner Erik Sviatchenko in central defence.

 

Shudder.

 

He's transformed us and it will only get better

 

Just want to say a big thank you to Brendan Rodgers. Done a wonderful job in such a short space of time. Domestically we look untouchable and on the European scene we are doing a lot better than I ever expected some of us didn't even think we'd get a single point, * even the pundits had us down as getting horsed every single game.

Thanks a lot Brendan, please stay for 5 years build a team and a legacy

 

Can't believe the job he has done so quickly, fantastic.

 

He's going to make us compete at this level. Two very respectable results in the toughest possible group.

 

BR: "I thought we should have won the game. Felt we were the best team."


BR: "Really proud of the players. I said to them in order for us to improve and be better we need to play with personality."


BR: "The personality we showed in the game was outstanding."


BR: "Very brave on the ball, built the game, created chances, had speed in our counter-attack and had chances to win."


BR: "We hit the bar, should score at the end and an outstanding team performance."


BR: "It was a beginning for us in terms of the personality we need to play with.


BR: "It’s another step forward for this team in a short space of time."



BR on @MDembele_10 pen: "It was a big moment for Moussa. He showed great composure."


BR: "He’s a very good penalty taker. Thought he was immense tonight."

BR: "For a 20-year-old to perform like that with his presence and quality was great."


BR: "We sit here having should have won the game but tonight’s a positive night."


BR: "Hopefully we can build on this game."


BR: "The competition this year was about improvement and I think we can see that."

 

Another couple of player's and as he said tonight, "time"...and this guy will take us place's..

What an unbelievable start to a reign..

 

Sort out the passing. Very slack at times

 

Great learning curve. He will take us far!

 

He's impressing me with almost every game. Domestically we're dominating teams playing good football and in Europe we've played two games against top teams that we really should have won. I wasn't optimistic about tonight after the 1st leg and hearing about our injuries but again he's done something to get the team playing much better than they did in the home tie. There's no doubt BMG are quality and they play at a very high level every week. For us to come away from that game absolutely gutted we didn't take the 3 points is incredible considering last season when we were absolutely gutted after going into games expecting to win against much lesser quality teams and getting embarrassed by playing like subbuteo players and a manager not lifting a finger.

I like his response to the question 'so you'll be improving the squad by buying in some player?' and he said 'well no, what I want to do is develop the players we already have first, get them playing their best game and then we won't have to worry about buying in a player for that position. People always go on about transfers but you really can improve a team by giving the players good coaching and finding out their strengths and weaknesses. Some players are written off too easily.'

It makes so much sense because even though he's bought at least 3 brilliant players for us he's also improved Forrest, Armstrong and the team seem fitter playing much better football all in the short space of 3 months. Ok admittedly Forrest's form has dropped and Armstrong is very hit and miss but they've been better than last season.

Broony is another player who some were writing off because of his poor form last season. Now he's our best player even though he doesn't win MOTM every game for me he makes the biggest difference by controlling the tempo of midfield and fighting for every ball. He's an inspirational captain. He just needs better midfielders to play alongside him I think and it would make a big difference.

Brendan will have to buy to strengthen the team though, that is quite obvious but I just like his attitude. Also what is good is he seems to have a good eye for a bargain so I look forward to who he does buy.