Celtic's Resurgence: From Honda Civic to Range Rover Sport
If Brendan Rodgers' football management career doesn't succeed, a future in the automotive industry may await him.
Amidst a tense atmosphere at Dens Park on a chilly Sunday, the chorus of boos that greeted the final whistle was replaced by the Celtic manager's comparison of his struggling team to a Honda Civic. No offense intended to Honda Civic drivers.
"You can’t enter a race and expect to drive a Honda Civic like a Ferrari; that’s just not going to happen," he remarked, delivering a candid critique of his underperforming squad, which he has consistently stated does not meet his expectations for domestic and European competitions.
Fast forward to Thursday, and another match, another post-game press conference, and another mention of the infamous Honda Civic. However, this time, following a spirited 2-1 comeback victory over Sturm Graz in the Europa League, he likened his team to a Range Rover Sport.
"We weren't quite a Ferrari, but I'll settle for a Range Rover Sport," Rodgers said with a smile. "Hopefully, we won't have any more Morris Minors in our performances—though they aren't bad cars, either."
At risk of another automotive metaphor, the match presented a moment where Celtic's wheels appeared ready to come off.
Entering halftime, the team had only managed one goal and one point from two Europa League games, a disappointing return for a squad that had aimed for the Champions League this season. Rodgers' public dissatisfaction with his team has contributed to an atmosphere of unease, compounded by a lackluster league campaign that leaves them five points behind leaders Hearts.
Fortunately for Celtic, the struggles of Rangers have provided a glimmer of hope.
As the match clock ticked to 26 minutes, injuries began to pile up. Kelechi Iheanacho limped off, and Kasper Schmeichel was beaten by a long-range strike from Tomi Horvat. Right-back Alistair Johnston, returning from two months on the sidelines, also succumbed to injury.
At this juncture, Celtic's character and resilience were put to the test. Unlike their previous match, they responded admirably. The breakthrough came in the 61st minute when Liam Scales scored, followed by a goal from Benjamin Nygren just three minutes later, propelling Rodgers' side towards redemption.
Rodgers commented on his post-match remarks from Sunday, stating, "Sometimes you have to be harsh to be clear. I hope that elicits a reaction. These players know I am dedicated to helping this team improve and the club progress. The performance at the weekend wasn’t good enough."
He emphasized the importance of leadership during challenging times: "When players are under pressure, they often rise to the occasion. You could see the progress made individually and collectively since the weekend's setback. Leaders show motivation, and we witnessed that tonight."
The key to Celtic's victory lay in their revitalized attacking approach. In their previous five matches, they had scored only four goals, and they struggled to find the net against Dundee.
Against Sturm Graz, particularly in the second half, they resembled their former selves, unleashing twenty shots with seven on target and completing 136 passes in the final third, achieving an impressive expected goals (xG) of 4.24—the highest of any team in the tournament this season.
A significant factor in their success was the performance of Arne Engels, who, despite limited appearances this season, made a notable impact against the Austrians with eight crosses, five chances created, and an assist. "I’m really pleased for Arne Engels; it was great to see him back and performing well," former Celtic defender Johan Mjallby said.
Despite the positive performance, no one at Celtic should become overly complacent. While they showed promise against Sturm Graz, it was not a flawless display, and the memories of their struggles at Dens Park remain fresh.
Looking ahead, Celtic faces one of their most critical domestic matches of the season against Hearts this Sunday. A loss could leave them eight points adrift, a staggering prospect given their ambitions as the season began.
They will travel to Edinburgh without Johnston, Iheanacho, and potentially Cameron Carter-Vickers. However, they carry with them a renewed sense of self-belief and tangible evidence of their capability to persevere.
This is the foundation upon which their title-winning legacy is built: getting the job done. They accomplished that against Sturm Graz, and now it's time to replicate that success.
Buckle up.