BRENDAN RODGERS permitted himself a small smile when he heard talk of about “no need to panic” after Celtic’s scoreless stalemate against Dundee United at Tannadice last weekend.
The Hoops gaffer listened as the gloom and doom merchants had their say as the champions dropped two points, despite a commanding lead at the Premiership pinnacle.
Talk elsewhere stated the main challengers from Ibrox could take advantage, reduce the leeway and set up a derby confrontation at Ibrox on Thursday to further deplete the Parkhead club’s lead.
Didn’t quite work out that way. Rodgers guided his team to a 4-0 romp over Motherwell on Boxing Day and, later in the evening, Philippe Clement’s side toppled to a 2-1 reverse to St Mirren in Paisley.
WISH LIST…Brendan Rodgers takes notes during the 4-0 Boxing Day win over Motherwell.
Celtic have a massive TWELVE point cushion as they prepare for the final match of 2024 against struggling St Johnstone at Parkhead tomorrow while Rangers play Well at Fir Park at the same time.
Rodgers can reflect on a year where his team have lost just twice while, across Glasgow, Clement’s outfit have been beaten four times in the league this time out.
They have been on the receiving end of losses to Celtic, a 3-0 home rout in September, Kilmarnock, Aberdeen and now Stephen Robinson’s Paisley club.
In the calendar year, the Hoops have been downed on two occasions across ALL competitions, their 10 men suffering 2-0 against Hearts at Tynecastle in March and the Champions League 7-1 nosedive against Borussia Dortmund in Germany in October.
Rodgers said: “I think this time last year we’d lost a couple of games, maybe drawn three, so I can’t have too many complaints.
“I heard someone saying the other day, ‘there’s no need to panic’, because we drew a game. That was an interesting one!
“My idea is the long game. I’ve got to look after the whole campaign and get us through game after game when it’s so busy. Until this point, the players have been fantastic.
“When you think, having lost only two games this year, they’ve been absolutely superb. One of them away back with 10 men then one against the Champions League Finalists.
“Apart from that, the players’ mentality, focus and drive has been relentless. We now want to finish 2024 in a really good way.”
SHUT-OUT SALUTE…Brendan Rodgers congratulates Kasper Schmeichel after another clean sheet.
Scotland’s title kings’ goals for column is impressive with 48 scored in 17 league matches, averaging almost three strikes per game.
The goals against column is equally outstanding with Kasper Schmeichel conceding a mere four times.
Rodgers, speaking to the media, continued: “It’s always the balance in identity. That’s been the really pleasing aspect of the team for me.
“I like a team that’s adaptable and can play in all the phases of the game. This is a team now that can press, be aggressive and be relentless within that.
“There are also times when they can play on the counter-attack. There are times when they can defend that bit deeper and be resolute.
“Then there are games where we can dominate and create. The pleasing aspect over 2024 has been the adaptability in the team to play in different phases of the game.”
The Irishman added: “Our intent is always to create goals and score goals. But that also is through your defensive tightness, organisation and pressing.
“As a team, the balance has been really good.”
