BRENDAN RODGERS could not disguise his utter disappointment as he attempted to sift through the wreckage of a bewilderingly awful performance from the champions in the 3-0 loss at Ibrox yesterday.
The Hoops were transformed into passive bit-part players as they collapsed in embarrasssing fashion against Philippe Clement’s also-rans.
Rodgers had sampled only one reverse in 20 derbies before this appalling showing. This inexplicable experience left him ashen-faced in anger.
The only consolation is that the Parkhead men, who host St Mirren on Sunday, are 11 points ahead and well on course for their fourth successive title, their thirteenth championship in 14 years and 55th crown in their glorious history.
DISMAL…Brendan Rodgers watches Celtic toil at Ibrox.
Reflecting on a head-scratching display from his team, Rodgers said: “We made too many mistakes with the ball.
“We’re normally precise and crisp with our passing and get through the pitch well, but we were so loose, even under no pressure, kicking the ball out, misplacing passes, giving it away too easy, and that obviously culminates in the first goal.
“I thought we started the first few minutes how we wanted to, pressuring them in their half, but then we gave away a really disappointing goal, which gives the stadium a lift and gives their players a lift because they haven’t beaten us in such a long time.
“So they’ve then got something to hang on to.
“We weren’t very good with the ball. We lacked aggression, we lacked the quality with it and it’s something we need to analyse and look at, and be better.”
Rodgers, speaking to Celtic TV, added: “It’s a disappointing game, but, thankfully, we have a quick game to come afterwards.
“But we need to analyse this because that wasn’t what we would want in a performance level.
“I didn’t feel after the first-half that we could be any worse in the second-half. I’m not sure it improved so much, if I’m honest.
“I’ve been behind here before, so I know what it’s like to come back, but we didn’t show anywhere near enough in order to do that.
“We just have to accept it and then look to be better come the weekend.”
