The head coach of the Hoops encourages his players to focus on themselves
Rangers’ stumble in the title chase will not deter Celtic, according to Brendan Rodgers.
The Ibrox team’s dismal performances in their last two games—losing to Ross County and drawing with Dundee—have allowed the Hoops to maintain a three-point advantage at the top of the Premiership. They had to play catch-up as a result, and going into the last stretch, their performances had been concerning.
Just a few weeks after the Light Blues appeared to be the team in form and was widely predicted to win the league, there has been much discussion about what went wrong to cause the form collapse. For his part, Rodgers claims to have instructed the Celtics players to ignore the events occurring in the city and concentrate only on themselves.
“I stressed to the players that we have always put ourselves first,” he stated. We can only complete our task, regardless of the outcomes or the performance of other teams.
“As of yet, we haven’t succeeded. It doesn’t matter if another team lost or anything else; you can’t become too attached to that. You have to play well and get the desired outcome because motivated teams can provide a challenge to you.
So, regardless of what occurs elsewhere, we must always concentrate on our own performance. We must work hard to craft our story, which will ideally become the plot by the conclusion of the season.”
Celtic suffer a serious injury setback before to their Scottish Cup match.
There has been a major setback in Celtic’s preparations for this Sunday’s vital Scottish Cup quarterfinal matchup at Celtic Park versus Livingston.
Due to Yang’s suspension, Luis Palma was expected to return to the starting lineup; however, he has shown significant doubts for the match, raising questions over who will start. Celtic YouTube
Brendan Rodgers, the manager of Celtic, is faced with a dilemma about Palma’s injury. The focus now shifts to the other options in the team as the Honduran international’s participation is in doubt. Forrest and Kuhn have been mentioned as suitable candidates to fill the void among the possible substitutes. Although each player has unique qualities, their addition would surely change the way Celtics play.
Celtic’s Options for the Scottish Cup
With his depth of expertise, Forrest may provide a direct attacking danger down the wing as well as dependability. His ability to perform under pressure and his comprehension of the tactical requirements of Aaron Rodgers’ scheme may tilt the scales in his favor for a starting position. Kuhn, on the other hand, is a more unpredictable possibility, albeit he hasn’t done much in a Celtics uniform yet.
The Celtic fans will be eager to see who is selected as Sunday draws near, hoping their team can get past this latest setback and advance in their pursuit of trophies. Any further injuries simply serve to further impede the team’s effectiveness, especially since they are already without their captain.
Celtic star is currently attracting interest from English Championship teams
The 18-year-old forward has not yet agreed to a new contract with the Scottish team and his current one expires at the end of the current campaign.
The forward has a contract offer on the table that would last until 2027, but for the time being, he has refused to sign it.
Under Brendan Rodgers, Vata has struggled to get into the first team and is now prepared to weigh his alternatives.
The Hornets are ready to bring him to Vicarage Road in the summer after keeping an eye on his circumstances.
The gifted player is dissatisfied with Celtic’s lack of opportunity and wants to play more football in the first squad.
If he moves to Watford, the Bhoys would receive compensation, but it won’t be much—roughly £239,000.
Italy is taking an interest in him as well.
Celtic defender expected to leave after deal is reportedly accepted
According to a rumor, a bid for Celtic’s central defender Yuki Kobayashi has reportedly been accepted. Kobayashi was last seen as a substitute during Celtic’s September Ibrox victory over Rangers, but under Brendan Rodgers, he was no longer involved.
Since the 23-year-old hasn’t played yet this season, it was assumed that he will be traded to get more playing time. According to Football Insider, the Japanese defender may be on his way out after an offer was accepted. This indicates that a trip back to Japan or the MLS is probably in order.
Kobayashi made just seven appearances after moving from Vissel Kobe and seems more uncomfortable with the fast-paced, physical style of Scottish football. Ange’s choice of Tomoki Iwata over Kobayashi in the Scottish Cup Final, following Kobayashi’s lackluster performance at Ibrox, was telling.
Harry Kewell is allegedly keeping an eye on Kobayashi’s circumstances, as the Australian is currently leading Yokohama F Marinos. To reduce the size of his squad, Brendan Rodgers may be able to move or loan the defender, according to the report.
Referee and VAR for Celtic vs. Livingston’s Scottish Cup match confirmed
The match was tainted by controversial refereeing calls, such as Hyunjun Yang’s red card and a contested penalty against Tomoki Iwata. This has caused stress in Celtic’s Scottish Premiership title campaign, as they are currently two points behind Rangers.
Although Celtic would have chosen to play in the league during the middle of the week instead of in this cup encounter, the team will at least have a full week of preparation before the game.
Celtic has a great opportunity to make a statement by winning this match and making it to the semi-finals at Hampden for the first time this year.
Under the direction of David Martindale, Livingston has had two victories, two draws, and two losses in their last five games. The game is scheduled to begin at 2:30 pm at Parkhead.
Willie Collum will officiate the match, assisted by Frank Connor and Steven Traynor, according to the Scottish FA. Nick Walsh will be in charge of VAR, and David Munro will serve as the fourth official.
With Rodgers’ remarks from the previous weekend, John Beaton became the center of attention. He is assigned to Aberdeen vs St Johnstone.
