Brendan Rodgers has caused a bit of a stir this week with his apparent criticism of the Celtic supporters after the St Mirren win at the weekend.
The Celtic boss seemed irked at the fans’ impatience with the team’s passing style of play against the Paisley side as the scores remained 0-0.
Rodgers urged the fans to ‘clap’ the team and encourage them whenever an attacking phase of play breaks down and Celtic need to recycle possession and start again.
The Hoops boss said, “I don’t need the cheers when it’s 3-0 and the support when it’s three and four and five nil. This team needs it. It’s just the amount of games that they’re playing and how we play, you only need to look at the facts and how this team plays to know they’re an attacking team, a creative team that creates goals and scores goals.
“So when we decide to go back to change the point of attack, clap the players. Don’t panic. Don’t start getting on to them because we’re trying to get another attack.
“So for us, if we play a backward pass or a sideward pass, it is to change the point of attack and the players deserve more. The players deserve the trust. And that was my annoyance today.
“Because it was great at 2-0, 3-0. But we need the support when it is 0-0, especially amidst a run of games where there are so many games where you might be a fraction fatigued, but we don’t mention that. We want to attack.
“Look at our numbers. Look at our look at our stats. Just trust the team, trust the manager. If you don’t, just trust the team and trust how they play.
Graham Spiers lambasts Celtic boss’ ‘absurd remark’
Rodgers’ comments appear to have annoyed Graham Spiers who says that although he is a fan of Rodgers, his comments were not right.
Spiers said on X, “I’m a fan of Brendan Rodgers as a manager – with thorough justification – but this was a preposterous comment he made today.
“Of course, supporters are not going to clap the endless ‘back and start again’. An absurd remark.”
I’m a fan of Brendan Rodgers as a manager – with thorough justification – but this was a preposterous comment he made today. Of course supporters are not going to clap the endless ‘back and start again’. An absurd remark. pic.twitter.com/czR0jUMtC6
— Graham Spiers (@GrahamSpiers) January 5, 2025
The Celtic fans have every right to support the team however they see fit, of course. They pay their money, they are allowed to vent their frustration.
At times the football against St Mirren was a bit turgid and slow and difficult to watch but it is hard to play free-flowing football when Stephen Robinson set his team up to strangle the life out of the game and waste time at every opportunity.
It will be interesting to see how the Celtic fans react tomorrow night when Dundee United come calling but I suspect they will be right behind the team. Just as they always are.
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