Brendan Rodgers Reflects on Celtic's Performance After 200th Win

Brendan Rodgers Reflects on Celtic's Performance After 200th Win

Brendan Rodgers Reflects on Celtic's Performance After 200th Win

Following his 200th victory as manager of Celtic, Brendan Rodgers expressed his concerns regarding the team's inconsistent performances at the start of the season.

"We are nowhere near our level, I can be clear on that," he told BBC Scotland after his team rallied to secure a last-minute win against Motherwell in a thrilling five-goal Scottish Premiership match.

A frustrated home crowd witnessed Celtic take the lead, fall behind, and then level the match thanks to a mistake by visiting goalkeeper Calum Ward, which allowed Benjamin Nygren to score the equalizer.

As the match appeared headed for a third consecutive game without a victory, Daizen Maeda's header in the 92nd minute shifted the atmosphere dramatically.

Despite the team's failure to perform at the expected level, Rodgers commended his players for their mentality, as they maintained their unbeaten start to the league and closed the gap to two points behind leaders Hearts.

"Clearly, this is a very important win for us," he remarked. "The players showed an incredible amount of heart. We demonstrated a strong mentality and competitive grit. Even though we are not at the levels we have shown in the past, it is essential to secure victories."

Maeda's Winning Goal a 'Special Feeling'

Rodgers also praised the impact of his substitutions, with Nygren scoring the equalizer in the 69th minute and Michel-Ange Balikwisha assisting Maeda for the decisive goal.

However, the Celtic manager was eager to highlight Maeda's individual contribution. The Japanese forward has struggled to replicate his previous season's form, having scored only twice in 12 appearances prior to this weekend's match.

Rodgers acknowledged that transfer speculation had affected the 27-year-old, who had expressed a desire to leave Glasgow during the summer transfer window, a move that was reportedly blocked by the club's management, causing unrest among supporters.

The manager indicated that the overall atmosphere at the club still needs improvement but praised Maeda's dedication following the victory on Sunday.

Rodgers expressed hope that Maeda's dramatic winner and the ensuing celebrations would spark a resurgence in the forward's performance. "For him and his family, this is significant," he said regarding Maeda's moment of triumph. "There’s no doubt that everything that happened over the summer affected him. For four years, he has given his all to this club, and naturally, there was disappointment for him in the summer, which I completely respect. He continues to show up and work hard every game, and that makes this moment special for him."

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