They (the players) are pros, same as you guys in the media. Sometimes he will play, sometimes he won’t.
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As well as Rodgers, there are many others making their debuts in this fixture with Joey Barton, Moussa Dembele and Scott Sinclair among many who will be looking to make their mark and subsequently make their names in the eyes of their respective supporters.
Rodgers also singled out Dembele for praise as he scored the flawless hat-trick with a header, right-foot and then left-foot strike. More substitution followed, Patrick Roberts for Forrest, Martyn Waghorn for Miller and Harry Forrester for Kiernan but Celtic had a firm grip on the game.
It may be early days in the Scottish Premiership title race, but both sets of fans, sure to create a sensational atmosphere, will know that Celtic would take control of the title race by winning.
The former Brentford manager said: “We’re obviously disappointed”. We had analysis with the players just now and it’s been pointed out by many of them: same scenario, we are going to get beaten by three or four. The first 20 minutes were nip and tuck. We appreciate the significance of this game, but like we said going into the cup semi a year ago, it’s about what we do.
“The second goal, loose release, poor decision”.
“When you come to a big club like Celtic you expect to play big games and that’s what we did today and will again on Tuesday so it’s good”.
“It was a very dominant performance and I thought we showed a lot of great traits in the game”. “We are going into a local derby with 60,000 fans, 52,500 of which will be backing one side”, Warburton said.
“I really sensed that they can’t wait to get playing and working”. Apologies to the support because they were magnificent. At 3-1 that was my call to try to get something from the game.
Gers have now slipped four points behind their rivals, who have a game in hand, after just five matches.
Saturday’s match will also be the first time Rodgers has come up against Rangers boss Mark Warburton, although the pair were briefly together at English Premier League club Watford. That is what I see in Scott.
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Warburton denied the Hampden win in April had been all the sweeter because they had been written off in some quarters. When you have adversity, work harder.
