“It’s not easy to play here when you go behind. We kept fighting,” Brendan Rodgers | OneFootball

Brendan Rodgers spoke to the media after this afternoon’s dramatic 3-2 win over Motherwell at Celtic Park. Here’s everything that was said…

Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Motherwell FC at Celtic Park, on 5th October 2025. Photo Mark Runnacles IMAGO/Shutterstock

Q: What are your thoughts on that today and the performance from the team?

Brendan Rodgers: “It was a fantastic win for us. You can see why Motherwell haven’t lost a game. The build-up play, how they build the game up and the confidence they play with. The coach deserves a huge amount of credit because we had to be really on it and organised in our pressing. We get a goal from that, but there were other moments where they came through the pitch. They deserve a lot of credit for what they gave to the game.

“I thought our players deserved it. The mentality of going behind in the game. It’s not easy to play here when you go behind. We kept fighting. Subs coming into the game made a great impact for us. That final 15 minutes of the game, where we had them pinned back and moving the ball at speed and creating opportunities, was great to see. We’re nowhere near our level. That’s the reality. I think we can all see that in terms of where I would want us to be. But you have to get results when you’re a player or a manager for Celtic. You have to find a way, and you have to dig deep and show heart. The players did that today. Amazing.”

Daizen Maeda of Celtic scores a late goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Motherwell FC at Celtic Park, on 5th October 2025. Photo Mark Runnacles IMAGO/Shutterstock

Q: You’re talking about nowhere near your level. It almost seems to be epitomised by Daizen Maeda out there. He was the best player in the country last year and won all the awards. As you said yourself, he’s not been at his highest level this season, but he’s still out there and scores that last-minute winner. How big a goal can that be for him?

Brendan Rodgers: “He just deserves so much credit. I’d seen him before I came in here, and then for over two years now, he’s given his heart and soul to this club. It’s well documented what happened in the summer and that’s not easy. If it affects a player like him, then you know how deep it goes. But what he’s done is he’s turned up still every day. He’s playing for me in probably the third position, if you asked him, because we have a gap on that side.

“He’s just got on with it. You see the difference the minute he comes over. His pressing, the intensity, everything changes for him. I just felt he’s the type that can nick you a goal. He gets in and a nice little move and he gets the goal. So, so happy for him and his family because he’s given so much to this club and he will continue to do that. But a great night and evening for him now.”

Q: Are you pleased with Michel-Ange Balikwisha’s input as well for that winner?

Brendan Rodgers:  “Yes, he needed to feel something in the game. It’s not easy for these guys coming in to play for Celtic. I’ve spoken to them, because Celtic’s great, you look on the outside and you see trophies and you see big games and you see European football and it all looks great. But actually, then you come in and you realise, wow, the expectation here and what I need to do and every single day of my life. And then I have to produce then on match day. So I think for him, it’s all been a wee bit of a blur. But I’m sure over time he’ll prove to be a really good player here. His little body work to let the ball run across and a great cross in for Daizen and to finish will be fantastic for him.”

The Celtic team comes together at the final whistle during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Motherwell FC at Celtic Park, on 5th October 2025. (Picture by Mark Runnacles Shutterstock)

Q: Given all that’s going on here at the centre and the round pegs and square poles and all that, is this the toughest test of your time here at Celtic?

Brendan Rodgers: “I think when I first came back it was a challenge. But yeah, having to work so hard to try and get balance, try and get speed, try and get everything into the team when there are certain characteristics that are missing from the squad. But you need to win. You need to find a way to win. And I do believe that as the season goes on, we will be better.

“The people that have watched us, you see the speed in the team that we’ve had over the last few seasons and it’s not quite the same. However, we have to find a way. We have to find a way to get the win and the players have done that today. Showing a big heart, a lot of spirit, great determination and a lot of fight, which is what you need over the course of a long season.”

Benjamin Nygren of Celtic celebrates scoring during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Motherwell FC at Celtic Park, on 5th October 2025. Photo by Mark Runnacles/Shutterstock

Q: I saw the celebrations in the stands, it was quite animated with all the build up to that?

Brendan Rodgers:  “There’s no doubt that, and I see myself as trying to see if we can pull it together on the pitch, which can help unify everything. Because that’s what Celtic’s about. Celtic’s that feeling. And clearly, the feeling isn’t quite right across the club. It’s not right. However, on the pitch, you have to win and you have to continue to win. And this is why I’m so proud of the players today.

“Because you see, when we went 2-1 down, a couple of misplaced passes, you need to hold your nerve here and deal with pressure. And the players found that calmness and found that ability to create the opportunities, and then eventually one goes in for us. So, amazing for the supporters. Even though we’ve only lost once this season so far, during the week, it’s still been a challenging summer to this point. But that’s for them, and it’s for them to enjoy that. Because we thoroughly deserved it. But it was a good game.”

Q: What can that maybe do for some of the new guys as well? Because it may be the first time some of them have experienced that power of Celtic Park when the equaliser goes in and the crowd are actually with you?

Brendan Rodgers:  “Well, that’s right. I think that’s all part of the experience here for those guys to understand it. The guys that have been around know the difficulties and the pressures that are there. But yes, it’s that feeling that you get. That’s what Celtic is. And to win a game against a team that’s very well coached and how they play, that was a really good win for us. And for them, it will give them a huge boost.

Hearts v Hibs, Scottish Premiership 04/10/2025. GOAL 1-0 Craig Halkett of Hearts celebrates with Alan Forrest after scoring the winning goal during the match at Tynecastle on 4 October 2025. Photo Malcolm Mackenzie PSI

Q: Brendan, can I ask you just about the league table? Obviously, you’re two points behind Hearts going into the October international break. What have you made of them? Are you surprised to see them so high in the table?

Brendan Rodgers:  “If I’m honest, I’m not really looking at it. I’m really not. It’s still so early in the season. My focus is on ourselves. I’ve got so much to concentrate on here. It doesn’t really mean anything now at this stage. Of course, everyone wants to start well. Hearts have started well. Kilmarnock have started well.

“But there’s still such a long way to go. I’m just proud of this group of players that are having to dig in, having to fight, win. We don’t have the same profile of players and we don’t have the same fluidity as of yet. But today, we showed a big heart. We’ll see where we’re at.”

Daizen Maeda of Celtic scores a late goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Motherwell FC at Celtic Park, on 5th October 2025. Photo Mark Runnacles IMAGO/Shutterstock

Q: The tendency with Daizen this season, when he’s been on the right, he’s maybe not been as productive in the last few games. But when he’s on the left and in the middle, he looked more like himself last season. Is that something you’re going to be persisting with going forward?

Brendan Rodgers: “I don’t really know. I don’t really know. We’re constantly trying to find… If you put him on the left, then… not unless you can play on the right, can you? But yes, there’s no doubt. His left side and middle is where his strength lies. But it’s the continuous job of looking to find the solutions. I think that normally over the course of pre-season, you’re finding out all these things, and then you arrive into your season and you’re ready.

“We haven’t been able to do that, so you have to find out within the games themselves because we’re playing mid-week games. There’s hardly any training. So that’s something I need to see in this period of games, which I have done. Now we can go forward from there.”

Q: Are you looking forward to time on the training pitch during the international break?

Brendan Rodgers:  “It is, but there won’t be so much because a lot of the players will be away. It’s not like you have the whole squad and you have them for two weeks before Dundee. A lot of them will go away. Some of them will recover a little bit. But we’ll be ready for Dundee and on the back of a really good feeling from today. We’ll look forward to a wee bit of a rest, but get to work and then we’ll be ready in a couple of weeks.”

Danny McGrain, David Potter & Willie Fernie – what a combination!

Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Out now, order your copy at Celticstarbooks.com

Celtic in the Eighties and Willie Fernie – Putting on the Style both by David Potter. Photo The Celtic Star

Danny McGrain has signed the remaining batch of Celtic in the Eighties so hurry to get your signed book!

Ordering is simple, just place your order for Celtic in the Eighties at celticstarbooks.com/shop and we’ll do the rest, ensuring your copy is signed by Danny PLUS a complimentary Willie Fernie book dispatched by the next working day, whilst stocks last,.

Celtic 3-0 St Mirren, Scottish Premier League, Celtic Park, 15 May 1982.Celtic captain Danny McGrain collects the championship trophy as Roy Aitken looks on. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Danny McGrain signing copies of Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Photo: Celtic Star Books

Please note that stocks are now running very low indeed and the book will NOT be reprinted. Click on the image below to order. Please note that postage will only be charged on ONE book.

Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Out now on Celtic Star Books. Click on image above to order.

More Stories / Latest News

Pressure mounts on ex-Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou at Nottingham Forest

Oct 5 2025, 20:43

“It’s not easy to play here when you go behind. We kept fighting,” Brendan Rodgers

Oct 5 2025, 20:42

Explicit message displayed in front of Celtic Board

Oct 5 2025, 18:30