Q: One of the things Kasper has impressed with this season is how good he is with the ball at his feet, is Sinisalo a like-for-like replacement in that respect?
Brendan Rodgers: “Well, that’s the idea. When we profile a player to bring him in, he has to have a certain level of competence with his feet. It’s how we play. Yes, he’s competent with his feet. Of course, you’ll always have different levels of players. But the modern game, in the big teams, the goalkeeper… And that’s a demand that we have, that they have to have that comfort with their feet. So, he certainly has that.”
Reo Hatate of Celtic celebrates scoring to tie the game 2-2 with Adam Idah of Celtic. Celtic v theRangers, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 16 March 2025 Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock
Q: Brendan, the team, in your time here, has tended to surge over the line, is that the message again?
Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, absolutely. Because it was the first time this morning that everyone was back. So, we had a debrief on the Rangers game. Draw a line under it. And then move on. And now, as I said, we’re into this business end now. Eight games to go, possibly two games in the Cup. So, a maximum of 10 games. Now we’re ready for the final push. And like I said, it’s understanding the disappointment. We all get it. And I felt it as well. It lingered for me longer than any defeat does. But then, the job is to lead. And now the job is to bounce back. And that’s what this club have been brilliant at. So, we have to take our medicine. We now focus on the great position that we’re in. And that starts tomorrow.”
Q: The aftermath of that match was pretty much dominated by the Vaclav Cerny celebration and the probe that came with it. I know the club weren’t happy and referred to the authorities. I just wonder, your own personal thoughts on that kind of powder keg match and what you made of those celebrations?
Brendan Rodgers: “My honest take on it is I know the club and that are dealing with it. Two, I haven’t seen anything. Because after the game, I went away. You know when you lose a game of that magnitude, you don’t read anything, you don’t listen to anything. You get away, out of the way. But I obviously heard what had happened. And you can’t do that. That’s the reality. I understand the jubilation. And Rangers players have every right to celebrate with their supporters. You come to Celtic Park like it would be when you go to Ibrox. If you win a game of that magnitude, you celebrate. But not in that way.”
Barry Ferguson, Interim Manager of theRangers, celebrates with backroom staff after Mohamed Diomande scored the team’s second goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and theRangers at Celtic Park on March 16, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Q: Barry Ferguson said he didn’t have a problem with that. If one of your players had done that, would you have had an issue with that?
Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, I would, yeah. I think it’s a lack of respect if a player runs up a touchline and he’s squirting a water bottle in the supporter’s face. I certainly wouldn’t want my players to do it.”
