Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has responded to questions that his Hoops side will have one eye on Bayern Munich on Tuesday ahead of tomorrow’s game against Dundee United at Celtic Park.
With Celtic having the chance to go 16 points clear of second-placed Rangers, who are in action on Sunday against Hearts at Tynecastle, Rodgers wasn’t having the narrative that the Hoops will just rock up tomorrow and win the game.
Having previously managed Celtic from 2016 until 2019, Rodgers is experienced as a manager at Celtic, with parts of the media looking to find a ‘gotcha’ moment from managers across the Glasgow divide. He wasn’t falling for the trap and instead gave his usual well-constructed and thought-out response.
The Irishman was quick to emphasise that the pressure he is under is in every game, instead of just in European games.
He said: (Celtic FC YouTube), “It’s my job to drive that and to lead that. Because I know as well as anyone the importance of whether it’s Raith, whether it’s Bayern Munich, or whether it’s Dundee United.
“Every game is a big game here. So, we’re always mindful of that, and the players are mindful of it as well.”
Rodgers has never struggled to motivate players during his career as a manager, and tomorrow, against Jim Goodwin’s side, will be no different. Put simply, if any player’s standards drop in training or during a game, they will be benched.
There is enough quality and depth to rotate when Rodgers feels the need, and the way in which Celtic play at such a high level consistently means much is made if the Hoops fall below a standard, but that is more to do with what Rodgers has done in his second spell at Celtic than anything else.
Bayern on Tuesday night at the Allianz will sort itself out, but tomorrow afternoon the Hoops will look to lay down a marker against third-placed Dundee United, who, having been promoted to the Premiership in the summer, have caused a number of upsets this season with a draw at home against Celtic and a draw at Ibrox in November.
