Brendan Rodgers Media Conference – ‘Celtic building rhythm and confidence’

In partnership with

The Celtic Star

·22 de setembro de 2025

Brendan Rodgers Media Conference – ‘Celtic building rhythm and confidence’

A delighted Brendan Rodgers spoke to the media at Firhill after the 4-0 Premier Sports Cup quarter-final win over Partick Thistle yesterday afternoon…

Here’s everything that was said after the match and the semi-final draw which sets up another Glasgow derby and gives Celtic the chance to secure a first win in 2025 over theRangers…

Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

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Q: Thoughts on that win Brendan?

Brendan Rodgers: “I thought we played very well. We’ve come to Partick, Mark’s team have been doing really, really well, really consistent over these last numbers of weeks and these can be really tricky games, but I thought we handled it really well. Our football was really good, intense, scored goals, aggressive when we didn’t have the ball and a really professional performance.”

Q: Big week coming up as well. How much did you need a performance and result like that?

Brendan Rodgers: “I think we’re building. It’s very, very difficult to be hot all year round. Last year, we started like a house on fire and maybe towards the end of the season, we just dropped a little bit. This season, obviously, with everything over the summer, it’s taken a bit of time, but we’re building and building rhythm and confidence, and I thought you could see that today. So, yes, it’s such a long season, still very early, but seeing that today shows that we’re on the right path.”

Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Q: I saw more fan protests before the game, but you could tell by the reaction of the fans that they’re very much behind the team?

Brendan Rodgers:“Very much so, very much so. I will never tell the supporters what to do or feel, but I don’t think they’ve forgotten the team because they know the support, the players feel it, they get encouraged by it, and we had a great backing all day.”

Sebastian Tounekti scores. Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Q: Looking at the third goal, especially there, Brendan, was it encouraging to see the link-up between Sebastian Tounekti and Kelechi Iheanacho and you see that quality in those areas now?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, and I think that it was interesting because, obviously, they looked to come and press early in the second half, and then we were able to play through that. Sebastian’s made a great impact since he’s come in .He’s got great speed, really good in the one-versus-one. Kelechi is very good. I know him well in those tight spaces, in and around the box. He’s got a lovely touch and his set-up play for the goal was excellent. I’m glad for Sebastian because that’s one area, when I spoke to him before he came in, that I felt we can improve his game because for him to keep progressing, he’s got big talent, but he needs to add numbers to his game.”

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Celtic fan protest. Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Q: The focus of the team, the desire from the first minute was impressive?

Brendan Rodgers:“Yes, I think we needed to be all over Partick today. I think if you give any team you come away from home a quarter-final of a cup, if you look for an easy game, they will give you a really difficult game. So that was the message before coming out. We need to be all over these guys from the beginning, and thankfully, our pressing intensity was really good.”

Brendan Rodgers at Firhill. Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Q: And now you’ve got a big draw vs (the)Rangers in the semi-final?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, I think that whatever team you play in the semi-final, going to Hampden, I think that was important for us to get back there. A lot of games in between then and, hopefully, between now and then, we can build the rhythm and keep growing and arrive in a good place for the semi-final.”

Q: Do you expect that the atmosphere around the team and the dynamic of the team will be very different from what we saw at Ibrox a couple of weeks ago?

Brendan Rodgers: “Ibrox was I think I said it at the time, for both teams, it wasn’t a great game, to be honest. Obviously, my worry was only Celtic, so we weren’t in our best place. Even though in other times you go to Ibrox and you get a point, it might be deemed okay. But for me, as I said, it was just about trusting the team and trusting how we work and, more importantly, trusting the players, which I do. And I can see the fluency starting to arrive.”

Colby Donovan, Callum McGregor and Brendan Rodgers all smiles after the match. Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Q: It was an ideal preparation for midweek, Brendan, yes?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, I think any good win, good performance, clean sheet, going into Europe was always good. So, yes, lots of players are getting good game time. People may be looking and thinking, ‘Well, why do you not make more changes?’ But, actually, a lot of the players haven’t been playing so much. If you think of the international break, a lot of the players, sometimes, that went on international duty, didn’t get a lot of game time. So, if they didn’t play today, it could have been a long time before they played. So, the guys coming off the bench, impacting the game as well, we look forward to that game there on Wednesday.”

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Kieran Tierney seen during the Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Q: Good for Kieran Tierney today as well, Brendan, getting the 90 minutes?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, psychologically, I felt it was important for him. He hasn’t played 90 in a long, long time, but for him just to push himself, to get over the hill, was very important. And, yes, I thought he was, especially in the first half, the combination play with him and Sebastian on that side was outstanding.”

Q: Kieran looks strong?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, he’s gone through a lot, not just physically, but mentally. There’s a stress on a player that you can never understand, unless you’ve had really bad injuries, and what that does to you, and what it makes you think about whenever you’re pushing yourself. And when you’re young and fresh and haven’t got many injuries, then you’re just free and you’re 100 per cent. When you know that you’ve been out for maybe periods of time, it can psychologically hurt you. But he’s getting over all that, and it’s just every day getting better and improving. And today, it’s good for him to get the 90 minutes.”

Sebastian Tounekti during the Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Q: I know it’s early in his career, but Sebastian Tounekti’s looking every inch a Celtic winger, in a throwback sense. He’s a guy that takes people on, and you were talking about his numbers and everything, but he excites the crowd?

Brendan Rodgers: “Oh, yes, he excites me every time he gets the ball, and that’s what we were desperate for in the team. So, he’s come in and been really aggressive. He’s a really talented boy because he can go either way, and also, not only that, he can run in behind. You see the number of times he makes runs. Sometimes he doesn’t get it, sometimes he does, but he’s running off the ball as well. So, I’m really excited for where he is and where we can bring him to. But importantly, supporters will love watching him because he’s so exciting.”

Sebastian Tounekti scores during the Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Q: Because that tradition is something to be embraced, isn’t it?

Brendan Rodgers: “I think that when you come here and you look through the history of this club, it’s littered with amazing wingers, and that’s the football we play. The DNA of this club is based on attacking football, and that is with wingers on the side of the pitch that can take people on, beat people. And every time he gets the ball, you just sense the excitement, and that’s what we need on both sides.”

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Colby Donovan in action during Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup tie. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Q: Brendan, just on young Colby Donovan, it was a really nice moment for him at the end there. How pleased have you been with his contributions since stepping into the team?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, delighted for Colby, and a little bit at the end was just to let him feel that moment that he probably dreams of all his life, being a Celtic supporter. I’ve always loved his personality, coming back the second time, just seeing him as a young player, and he was going through a growth spurt in his first year at the club. But what he has, he has the personality to play for Celtic, and I thought he did very well today. The servicing of the ball was good, aggressive. Sometimes a young player can get picked out for the ball to go on that side, but he’s dominant in the air, and he’s only going to get better. So, really pleased for him, and he trains really well every day, and he was deserving of his opportunity.”

Colby Donovan celebrates after the Partick Thistle v Celtic match. Premier Sports League Cup tie. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Q: He said he’s bonded with Kieran Tierney, that’s his ideal role model, isn’t it? Look no further than Kieran?

Brendan Rodgers: “I think all the kids coming through can really look to all the young players that have come through the system. James Forrest, you look at Callum and all the guys that have come through, and Stephen Welsh, and Tony Ralston, all these players that have come through the system, they’re all of the same DNA, humble, hard-working and consistent, and Colby’s definitely learning from him.”

Brendan Rodgers applauds the Celtic support. Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Q: Is he likely to keep his place, Brendan, or could you have Tony Ralston back for Belgrade?

Brendan Rodgers: “Tony will train on Monday. Listen, there’s no one guaranteed. If you’re playing and performing, you’re playing in the team. So, there’s nobody that I would ever say is a definite starter in any position. You train not just to play, but you train to fight, and if you’re training and fighting and running and working, then you’ll get the chance to play. But you also have to be aware of his age and the number of games coming into the system, but he’s shown that he can be a first-team player at Celtic. That’s really good for him.”

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Q: Did everyone else come through without injury? No other issues for you?

Brendan Rodgers: “No, I don’t think so. I’ll find out in the morning, but I think everyone’s come through really well. We were able to manage the group and the players getting game time, and yes, it’s good for us.”

The Celtic Board. Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Q: After the disappointment of not reaching the Champions League, how excited are you about getting the Europa League campaign underway?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, any European competition, of course, is a great honour to be in. We always want to be in the Champions League. That’s where I believe the club should be. But if we’re not there, then, of course, we embrace this competition and we’re excited by this competition and how far we can go in it.”

Q: Do you have anything to say to the players about what they should be achieving in this competition?

Brendan Rodgers: “No, no, no. It’s just a game at a time. We’ve obviously got eight good but tough fixtures. Then we’ll see where we’re are at the end of that.”

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