Brendan Rodgers questioned the mentality of his gamers after a dismal show at St Johnstone noticed them lose to the Perth males for the primary time in 9 years.
Requiring a victory to arrange a possible league clincher in opposition to Kilmarnock on Saturday, Celtic fell behind to Daniels Balodis’ early header then struggled to become familiar with the duty of seeing off a aspect which began the day 52 factors behind them.
Having beforehand expressed his concern on the means his aspect had been beginning some matches, Rodgers admitted he’s more and more apprehensive that sure people now appear to be in a consolation zone.
‘It’s mentality,’ he provided after the 1-0 defeat. ‘It’s a gaggle that has psychological energy. I’ve been in groups, particularly up right here, the place you simply energy your means by the season, proper to the very finish. And there’s possibly a number of which are comfy.
‘If you’re comfy, you change into a bit timid and also you lose duels and also you lose the combat.
‘And you may by no means be that. You may by no means be that if you wish to be a prime participant. So collectively, that’s the annoyance.
Brendan Rodgers makes his emotions clear throughout Celtic’s 1-0 defeat at McDiarmid Park
Rodgers takes within the lack of all three factors as St Johnstone supervisor Simo Valakari celebrates
Rodgers mentioned that his criticism of the gamers didn’t apply to Celtic captain Callum McGregor
‘It’s simply carried out. You may go into the sport and search for a simple sport, prime v backside. However the perfect gamers are proper on it from minute one.
‘And I’m not speaking about boys like Callum McGregor, who offers with expectation, who offers with being the underdog within the Champions League and guys like that.
‘However there’s completely little question, round a few of our begins, we’ve some gamers entering into on the lookout for a simple sport. And that’s what we have to have a look at.’
Rodgers refused to simply accept the truth that his aspect stay 13 factors forward of Rangers as an evidence for such a poor efficiency.
‘It might’t be,’ he harassed. ‘I can not use that as an excuse. Ibrox, yeah, after we misplaced the sport there on January 2.
‘Okay, 16 factors, I can have a look at that, or no matter it was. However no, no, it’s occurred too many occasions. Like I say, there’s a implausible group of gamers, good guys, who this 12 months in the principle have been very, superb.
‘However I don’t like after I see this right here. And for me, it’s simply occurred too many occasions.’
Whereas Celtic will shut out the title with one other two wins, Rodgers feels the prospect of dealing with St Johnstone within the Scottish Cup semi-final ought to function a warning in opposition to any complacency.
‘There’s nonetheless work to be carried out,’ he mentioned. ‘Pay attention, I don’t threaten the gamers. The gamers have been good for me this season.
‘I don’t like us to only recover from the road. They’ve been good, however this aspect of it, I don’t like. And one, we haven’t gained the league but. Sure, we’re 13 factors clear, we’ve obtained six video games to go.
‘However there’s nonetheless a number of work to do. And my feeling is, and that is what I mentioned earlier than the sport, prime groups, they’ve expertise, they’ve a system, and so they have a spirit and an ambition to win. The third one has been a wee bit ropey for us.
‘There clearly is expertise. However earlier than any of that, there needs to be a need and a mentality. And a few occasions, just a bit bit timid, and that’s one of many large pitfalls to succeed for me. You simply can’t be timid.’
Rodgers admitted that the problem was now critical sufficient for him to have a look at within the shut season.
‘I wish to firstly give enormous credit score to St Johnstone. Generally that may get bypassed within the end result and in our efficiency. I believed they fought for each ball from the primary whistle,’ he mentioned.
‘They get the purpose after which they defend for his or her lives within the second half. So, it’s an enormous credit score to them and congratulations to them. For us, poor begin to the sport, however not the primary time.
‘Not the primary time and that is one thing for me that we’ll have a look at, definitely in the summertime.
‘We obtained three stands that stood filled with our personal supporters, expectant. And that’s what you need to take care of as a Celtic participant and we didn’t take care of that in any respect.
‘My intention right here is all the time to dash over the road. And I’ve carried out that earlier than and I do know what it appears like.
‘However I don’t like that aspect of it on this workforce. As a result of for Celtic, it’s profitable in one of the best ways you probably can. Not simply chugging your means over the road. So, we’ve no excuse. We’ve got no excuse. It’s not about tiredness.’
