Brendan Rodgers has kept up his clear and honest take on Celtic’s Champions League exit, saying the team didn’t show the quality needed over the two games to beat Kairat Almaty.
Celtic went out on penalties after two 0-0 draws, and Rodgers pointed to a poor first leg and missed chances in Kazakhstan. He admitted the pitch was tough but said that wasn’t the reason they went out, it was down to not doing enough to win.
Rodgers’ words matched the anger and disappointment many fans are feeling after another early European exit. With big games coming and uncertainty over transfers, he now has to rally his players for what’s ahead.
Attention quickly shifts to Sunday’s game at Ibrox, with Rodgers already underlining how important it is to bounce back fast. The derby now carries even more pressure after this midweek failure.
He said: (Celtic FC YouTube), “Everyone’s bitterly disappointed. We had a really big opportunity in these two games, but obviously, if we don’t score the goals, which we haven’t done over the two games, then Karat, with the greatest respect, are playing for that moment at the end.
“Really disappointed with the first half of the first game. We wanted to take a lead to here, but we didn’t play well enough and show enough quality and the things you need to do to win the game.
“The pitch was very, very difficult. I think you’ve seen the quality of the football was at a really low level, I felt, but we still had chances and didn’t quite take them.
“It’s a long flight, but we’ll just have to get ourselves ready now because it’s a huge game for us on Sunday.”
Rodgers’ post-match analysis offers a clear message: effort alone isn’t enough at this level. While his side showed plenty of endeavour, the failure to convert chances and control the tie across two matches proved costly.
There will be little sympathy offered for the conditions or missed opportunities. Celtic once again fell short of the standard required to compete in Europe’s top competition, and the fallout has only just begun. The Irishman now needs to find a response in the league and hope the final days of the transfer window bring overdue reinforcements.
Sunday’s clash at Ibrox presents a quick chance to lift the mood and reassert domestic control. But the margin for error is shrinking fast, and Rodgers knows it.
As fans look for answers, the manager has at least been direct in his assessment. The next question is how quickly Celtic can respond on the pitch.
