“The crowd were brilliant,” says Rodgers, Green Brigade’s retro songbook “all part of the dance” | OneFootball

In an entertaining night at Celtic Park, with the side-show, the football and the freezing January weather to deal with, Celtic scored in each half to secure the three points over Dundee United and extend the lead over theRangers to 16 points ahead of their trip to Dens Park this evening.

Celtic players enter a huddle prior to the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee United at Celtic Park on January 08, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The Green Brigade and Celtic Bhoys decided to have a trip down memory lane, recycling songs in tribute to former Celtic heroes from Billy McNeill and Jimmy Johnstone from the Lisbon Lions through to more modern icons like Lustig, Mulgrew, McCourt, Sinclair, Boruc and many more finishing off coincidentally with Kieran Tierney. A point well made and one that even the manager sort of admired. It’s hard to recall a night at Celtic Park when the singing was almost exclusively about the football!

Scotty Sinclair celebrates scoring Celtic’s second goal with his team mate Leigh Griffiths during the Scottish Premiership match between theRangers and Celtic at Ibrox on December 31, 2016 in (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

Anyway that should bring the whole weekend row to a conclusion and on the other point, the Celtic players didn’t appear to make any pass backs at all to Kasper Schmeichel in the first 20 minutes of the match where the Celtic goalkeeper didn’t get a touch of the ball, in minus seven conditions. Ad throughout the 95 minutes there appeared to be no moans and groans from the stands with around 40-45k braving the elements and not taking advantage of the half-price PPV offer on Celtic TV.

Afterwards the Celtic manager gave his thoughts in his post-match media conference, which these days doesn’t appear to include the representatives from the Celtic fan media. Here’s what Brendan had to say in response to the questions from the mainstream media…

Daizen Maeda of Celtic scores his team’s first goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee United at Celtic Park on January 08, 2025 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: Brendan, what did you make of that performance tonight?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, it was a really good win for us. I thought the first half we had a lot of control in the game and got into some really good areas and maybe could have been more in front. The second half, for a little spell, we lost a little bit of our attacking connection in the game, so we weren’t as fluent getting through the pitch. Then, with a little spell, we had to defend on direct free kicks and long throw-ins into the box. We came through that spell really well and then obviously finished off getting the second goal and thoroughly deserved to win. From the first whistle, we were trying to impose ourselves in the game and get into some really good areas. I felt we could have maybe crossed it one or two more times than what we did do, but the effort of the players and what they gave. This is a game where very few times you give little and get the rewards, so you have to give everything in. The players have done that and they got the rewards in the end, so I’m really pleased with that.”

Q: It’s a freezing cold night up against a team who are sitting in quite deep. Is that a character the players need to show to make sure they get the three points?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, you have to. I think, obviously, a team that’s designed to sit 11 men behind the ball. We’ve seen it up at Dundee United and we’ve seen it here. It’s no criticism. That’s what you have to come up against and you have to face that and you have to win, which is important. The players showed that mentality to do that. Any time they were asked to defend, we defended it ever so well. It’s a really good win amidst a really busy, busy schedule and on a freezing cold night. It was good to get the three points.

Nicolas Kühn arrives prior to the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and St. Mirren at Celtic Park on January 05, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: An update on Nicolas Kuhn?

Brendan Rodgers: “We’ll see in the morning what it is. He just felt something on top of his thigh, so he didn’t feel he could risk it. We had to take him out and put Yang in.

Q: That defensive aspect must be something that’s really pleasing? You can have so much of the ball, but even once or twice, whenever they are tested, tonight especially, they answered to everything?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, I think that’s been a big part of our game. It probably gets overlooked a lot, is that defensive mentality, because the game always has to be in balance. It’s no good being able to attack and do everything and then it turns into a basketball game and you’re up and down the pitch. The defensive mentality of the team, which is still an attacking mindset, because you’re trying to press the game and you’ve got to press the game to sustain the attacks. The players were doing that ever so well, very consistently. Like I say, when they do that and they put that effort in and you see that, then it leads to so many clean sheets.

Jim Goodwin, Dundee United Manager shakes hands with Brendan Rodgers, Manager of Celtic prior to the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee United at Celtic Park on January 08, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: I suppose no complacency has to be the message, even though you are 16 points clear in January?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, but there’s still such a way to go. It’s 21 games, so you still get 17 games to go. I don’t think there’s ever complacency. Players, I think, we always guard against that contentment. This is a club that’s not complacent. It’s a club that we strive to be the best that we can possibly be, to keep improving and that’s the culture of how we work. So, yes, you can win and win and win. I think it keeps that flow going and that mentality. The players are in a good flow at the moment.

Q: It’s a hot topic. Talking about patience, you got that didn’t you from the stands, even at 1-0?

Brendan Rodgers: “Absolutely, the crowd were brilliant. Like you said, it can get a bit edgy and we are a support, bless us, we fret a wee bit, we can do that. But I think it was there. I think that support is so important and it was fantastic tonight. It’s such a cold night to come out and see the team, but the numbers turned up and gave the team a great support and that allowed us to push us over the line.

Greg Taylor of Celtic looks on as he inspects the pitch prior to the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Dundee United at Celtic Park on January 08, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: Greg Taylor seemed totally unflustered by it all as well, just his usual self?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, he’s absolutely fine with it. Like I say, it’s probably a bigger deal made of it than what it actually was, my observation I made, but it’s gone now. So, he was very good in the game, as he always is. He was very consistent and had a really good performance.

Q:  “There were a few old band favourites getting rolled out for former players from the crowd tonight. Did that bring a smile to your face, some of the songs?

Brendan Rodgers: “The kit man, he was the only one that missed out, I think, tonight. But, yes, it’s all part of the dance here, isn’t it? My job is to put the best team on the pitch and win consistently, and everyone can smile.

Reo Hatate of Celtic celebrates scoring the second goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee United at Celtic Park on January 08, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: “A good finish from Reo Hatate as well, is the challenge for him to show that more consistently?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, the work, the intensity, he has quality, of course, but it’s the same for every player. The minute you come off it and you’re not quite there, then there’s other players that can take your place. That’s what being at a big club is, having a competitive squad. The players until this point of the season, 21 games in and across the competitions, they’ve been very, very good, but we have to keep challenging ourselves to be better. We’ll be able to analyse that game and see little errors, but Reo and the other guys, we all demand to be the best that we can.”

Here’s Brendan’s post match interview with Celtic TV…

And another with Sky Sports…

And last but certainly not least here’s Sandman’s Definitive Ratings…

Kasper Schmeichel acknowledges the fans following the Scottishl Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee United at Celtic Park on January 08, 2025 . (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

READ THIS…Sandman’s Definitive Ratings – Celtic v Arabesques

Oh and a last word on the back passing controversy. Not all former Celtic managers agree with Brendan and some have even been known to do a little more than moan and groan about it. Remember the day everyone in the stadium heard Ange Postecoglou ROAR at his players, screaming “STOP PASSING IT BACK”…

It’s a funny old game right enough…

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