Brendan Rodgers addresses ‘interesting’ comments he’s heard about Celtic’s form this season

Celtic have been absolutely relentless in their defence of the Scottish Premiership title this season.

The Bhoys’ draw with Dundee United was only the second time Brendan Rodgers has watched his Celtic team drop points this season.

 

Prior to that, Celtic’s 2-2 draw with Aberdeen was the first time the Hoops failed to collect all three points as their relentless start to defending their title continues this season.

But it was the reaction to Celtic’s stalemate in Tannadice that Rodgers addressed after he watched his Bhoys beat Motherwell 4-0 on Boxing Day.

Brendan Rodgers bemused about response to Celtic’s draw with Dundee United

Rodgers told Celtic TV, “This time last year we’d lost a couple of games and drawn maybe three.

“I can’t have too many complaints really.

“I heard someone say the other day there’s no need to panic. That was an interesting one! Some of the supporters were saying there’s no need to panic because we drew a game.

“My idea is the long game. I’ve got to look after the whole campaign and get us through game after game when it’s so busy. And until this point and this year, the players have been absolutely fantastic, having only lost two games [in 2024]. It’s been absolutely superb.

“One of them away with 10 men and then one against the Champions League finalists. Apart from that, the players’ mentality and their focus and their drive have been relentless.

 

Celtic’s top 10 performers with Rangers on the horizon

Celtic still have to face St Johnstone ahead of their trip to face Rangers in the New Year Glasgow Derby on the 2nd of January.

With players like Nicolas Kuhn, Luke McCowan and Daizen Maeda mostly hogging the headlines, here, 67 Hail Hail looks at who is performing for Rodgers this season with the big derby less than a week away.

Celtic player	Times Won Player of the Match	Average rating
1. Callum McGregor	1	8.06
2. Liam Scales	2	7.97
3. Nicolas Kuhn	0	7.89
4. Alistair Johnston	2	7.78
5. Cameron Carter-Vickers	0	7.64
6. Greg Taylor	0	7.61
7. Kasper Schmeichel	2	7.60
8. Auston Trusty	0	7.59
9. Luke McCowan	3	7.39
10. Arne Engels	2	7.23

Some surprising stats tucked away in there like Nicolas Kuhn not being awarded the player of the match considering his goalscoring record.

 

Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

There is also a nice place in there for Arne Engels who has come under some criticism for his form this season for Celtic yet he is one of the club’s best performers.

 

Celtic are in a great place heading into the second half of the season. Still unbeaten in the Scottish Premiership and with the first piece of silverware already in the Bhoys’ trophy cabinet, the potential for winning another treble is there despite some of the grumblings of dropped points at Tannadice.