Brendan Rodgers on Celtic’s sensational second half show

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The Celtic Star

·25 November 2024

Brendan Rodgers on Celtic’s sensational second half show

Brendan Rodgers praised Celtic’s ‘excellent’ second half performance as the Hoops cruised to a 4-1 victory in Gorgie on Saturday evening…

Kyogo. Hearts v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Tynecastle. 23 November 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Despite struggling in the first half to create any clearcut chances, Celtic came out all guns blazing after the interval and blitzed Neil Critchley’s side with their unstoppable attacking quality.

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11 points separate Celtic and theRangers

Following Aberdeen losing 2-1 to St Mirren in Paisley, the Hoops have gone three clear of the Dons at the top of the Scottish Premiership table over the weekend. Additionally, 11 points separate Celtic and theRangers after the Ibrox side drew 1-1 with newly-promoted Dundee United on Saturday afternoon.

Nicolas Kuhn. Hearts v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Tynecastle. 23 November 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Incredible away record for Celtic

Subsequent of Brendan Rodgers’ men comfortably winning 4-1 at Tynecastle, Celtic have won all seven of their opening away league matches for only the fourth time in their 137-year history. Previous seasons include 1957/1958, 1971/1972, and 2017/2018.

Celtic also stretched their domestic unbeaten run to 25 games. A period that spans from March until now that does not look like it will come to an end anytime soon.

Adam Idah celebrates. Hearts v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Tynecastle. 23 November 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Meanwhile, on his landmark 150th appearance for the club, Kyogo opened the scoring ten minutes into the second half with his 11th goal against the Jambos since arriving in Glasgow three years ago and his 80th strike in green and white colours.

Nicolas Kuhn added to the scoreline five minutes later netting the Scottish champions second of the match, and his own remarkable 22nd goal contribution of the season.

Rodgers makes excellent use of his bench

Rodgers’ substitutes excellently combined for Celtic’s third. Portuguese playmaker Paulo Bernardo who is chapping on Brendan Rodgers door for a permanent place in the starting lineup, set up Adam Idah who fired past former Hoops goalkeeper Craig Gordon. However, the Jambos gained a consolation late on after a terrific long-range effort from Musa Drammeh meaning Kasper Schmeichel conceded only his fourth league goal as Celtic shotstopper.

Adam Idah celebrates. Hearts v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Tynecastle. 23 November 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Rounding it off with his double from the spot, Idah grabbed his double and Celtic’s fourth. The Irishman now averages a goal every 77 minutes for the Hoops this season.

On the match, Brendan Rodgers praised his players for their quality in sealing another important three points on the road.

‘Second half, we figured out their press’

“I’m really pleased. [Tynecastle] is a really tough place. To win 4-1 was really pleasing,” he said to Celtic TV.

“Second half, we figured out their press. They have normally been pressing in 4-4-2 but changed it slightly. It just meant we had to drop a man in our build-up play.”

Celtic celebrate the victory. Hearts v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Tynecastle. 23 November 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

“We had some good moments in the first half, but once we were able to play through that pressure, I thought in the second half we were excellent.”

Turning his attention to a crucial Champions League encounter with Club Brugge on Wednesday evening, Rodgers explained, “it’s a very exciting period for us. All the players know they will play, they just need to be ready.”

Conor Spence