Q: Brendan, everyone coming through this busy schedule okay?
Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, still James Forrest is the only one that’s out, but everyone else, all good.”
Q: Last time we heard from you, you were calling on the Celtic fans to maybe trust you and trust the team a bit more in games like the St Mirren one. Is that going to be required again potentially, this type of fixture that you face tomorrow evening, perhaps that level of patience?
Brendan Rodgers: “I think a lot of the games over this period of time, especially when you’re going to come up against teams that are designated to sit in deep and close the space. So yeah, it’s definitely an important part of the idea of getting to games such as these.
Celtic celebrations
Q: Why is it so important? Do you feel like it can’t spook players even though you can try and get your message across? Is that the ultimate fear, that they become anxious and don’t do the things you want them to do?
Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, listen for me it’s always, my job really I always say is to create an atmosphere that players here both in the training centre and at Celtic Park and beyond that can flourish and play in the style of which the fans demand here. And that there is all about positive mentality and that connection between both. So yeah, listening to Celtic fans is amazing for the team and for the players and when everything is right up there.
“There is going to be moments over the course of the coming months where teams will be sat in deep and you might not be able to always play forward and you have to come out and restart the attack again. I never ask the team to play around the houses and not be penetrative and I think you see that in the goals that we score and the chances that we create. But no, it’s an observation, I think everyone has the right to air their emotion and their feeling and that was my feeling from the weekend but now we look forward.”
Q: What do you expect the reaction to be like tomorrow Brendan from the fans after your comments at the weekend?
Brendan Rodgers: “The supporters will support the team.
Q: Have you had to speak to Greg Taylor at all in the aftermath of that game? Is that something you have had to address with him personally?
Brendan Rodgers: “I have spoke to him, he is absolutely fine. I had a good chat with Greg just on a number of things. He is good to go.”
Q: Was his nose fine as well?
Brendan Rodgers: “That was obviously a part of going in to make sure he was okay and he obviously rushed in to get some treatment. But yes, he is fine. He is trained today so he is good to go.”
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Looks like John Kennedy hasn’t given him his SNICKERS bar yet.