Manager: We're ready for a tough game against Kilmarnock

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Celtic F.C.

·8 novembre 2024

Manager: We're ready for a tough game against Kilmarnock

The Celtic faithful, fresh from their side’s demolition of Aberdeen in the League Cup semi final last weekend, were given more reasons to be cheerful on Tuesday night as the Hoops defeated RB Leipzig 3-1 at Celtic Park in the UCL.

Whilst the skies above lit up with shimmering kaleidoscopes of colour scattered far and wide by fireworks, under the Paradise lights and the watchful eyes of 60,000 fanatics, it was the famous green and white hoops which dazzled and captivated all who were there to witness what was a truly epic display.

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A first-half double from Nicolas Kuhn (which consisted of a screamer from distance and a goal forged and crafted by a relentless Celtic counter-press) and a reactionary finish from Reo Hatate in the second half sealed a famous Champions League win for the Celts in the club’s birthday week.

That result and the truly commanding performance that accompanied it, will live long in the memory for everyone connected with Celtic, not least of all the man at the helm, Brendan Rodgers.

Speaking to the media today ahead of this Sunday’s trip to Kilmarnock on league duty, Brendan reflected on the last week for his side and on the improvements that he is seeing on the park from the champions.

“Saturday’s performance and getting to the League Cup final was a real statement win for us domestically,” he said. “But then to go in to a game of that magnitude against that level of opponent, I’ve heard it spoken about as a generational game, which I couldn’t argue with.

“The performance level is something that we’ve been working towards for the last 12 to 16 months.

‘I was so proud watching the level of the team and how aggressive we were against a genuine top team.’

“It was a great night for everyone at the club. The supporters will have had a glow for a few days and rightly so because their team did them proud.

“But now we’re back to our bread and butter and getting ready for Kilmarnock.”

The Celts travel to Ayrshire for the first time this season on Sunday where they will face a Kilmarnock side who have had a mixed start to the season and currently sit eighth in the table.

The last time the Hoops were at Rugby Park, a 5-0 victory for the green and white saw the league title secured for the 54th time in Celtic’s history.

However, despite being heavy favourites to take all three points back to the East End of Glasgow on Sunday afternoon, Brendan is well aware of the threat that Derek McInnes’ side can pose at home.

He said: “It’s always a tough game against Derek’s teams. When we played them a couple of times in the early part of last season, they were better than us and deserved to win.

“Once we got to grips with how we were working and our idea come the turn of the year, when we next played, we were in a different place and come the end of the season we were in a really good place.

“And now I would say we’re in an even better place. But it’s still going to be very difficult.

“Derek’s teams are always well organised, super-motivated and they will always challenge you.

“That’s something that we’ll be ready for.”