Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers praised Falkirk’s performance in their Premier Sports Cup tie, saying they posed the biggest challenge of the season. Despite making eight changes to the starting lineup, Celtic struggled to find their rhythm in the first hour of the game, allowing Falkirk to take the lead approaching the final 20 minutes.
Rodgers, however, took responsibility for the team’s poor performance, saying it was on him, not the players. “I thought Falkirk were excellent,” he said. “I was expecting it, to be fair, which is why we tried to freshen the team up, because they give good energy and move the ball well, so they work you.” He acknowledged that his team’s disjointed performance was due to the number of changes he made to the lineup. “When you make eight changes like that… I wanted to get some players in and play in the stadium, get in their first minutes of the season, playing with the team,” he explained. “In some moments, we looked good, and in other moments, there was just that little bit of hesitancy. That comes from just not playing so much.”
However, Rodgers’ decision to bring on substitutes Nicolas Kuhn, Greg Taylor, Yang Hyun-jun, and Arne Engels on the hour mark proved to be the turning point in the game. Kuhn went on to produce two assists for Adam Idah and score two goals himself, setting up a Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Aberdeen. Rodgers praised Falkirk’s energy, movement, and commitment to attacking football, saying they deserved their lead and were comfortable until Celtic’s substitutes came on. “It’s a huge credit to John, his players and his staff, because I had a real joy analysing them and seeing how they play, and seeing how they commit to attacking football,” he said. “I really wish and hope that they can go on and get promoted, because they play a fantastic style.”
Falkirk manager John McGlynn felt his team had done themselves and their fans proud, saying they caused problems for Celtic and worked hard to stay in the game. “It speaks volumes for our team that we could come here and score two goals and Calvin Miller had a decent shot as well,” he said. “We caused one or two problems. Bringing on the subs was a big thing in the game, four players coming on of that calibre. Our guys slightly get a little bit tired, which was only going to happen because obviously we worked so hard to stay in the game and to get in front in the game.” McGlynn acknowledged that Celtic’s substitutes made a difference, but praised his own team’s performance and said they had no criticism for themselves. “Celtic exposed us with the way they play and fair play to them, but no criticism in any way from myself to these guys,” he said.
Rodgers also praised debutant Alex Valle, the 20-year-old on-loan Barcelona left-back, who was outmuscled by Alfie Agyeman before both goals. “It’s a crash course in British football, isn’t it?” he said. “You might get (a free-kick) in Spain, but you certainly won’t get it in Britain. He’ll learn that, and he’s a good kid. He’s only young. He’s settled in really, really well into the city, into the club, and he’s there for us when he’s needed.” Rodgers also provided an update on injured players Cameron Carter-Vickers and Alistair Johnston, saying that Carter-Vickers is suffering from a sore metatarsal and will be assessed, while Johnston will have an injection and be fine to train on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Despite the challenges faced by Celtic in the first hour of the game, Rodgers was pleased with the way his team adapted and changed the game with their substitutes. “When you make eight changes like that… I wanted to get some players in and play in the stadium, get in their first minutes of the season, playing with the team,” he explained. “In some moments, we looked good, and in other moments, there was just that little bit of hesitancy. That comes from just not playing so much.” He praised the energy and movement of Falkirk’s players, saying they gave Celtic a lot of problems. “They give good energy and move the ball well, so they work you,” he said.
Falkirk’s manager John McGlynn was proud of his team’s performance, saying they had done themselves and their fans proud. “It speaks volumes for our team that we could come here and score two goals and Calvin Miller had a decent shot as well,” he said. “We caused one or two problems. Bringing on the subs was a big thing in the game, four players coming on of that calibre. Our guys slightly get a little bit tired, which was only going to happen because obviously we worked so hard to stay in the game and to get in front in the game.” McGlynn acknowledged that Celtic’s substitutes made a difference, but praised his own team’s performance and said they had no criticism for themselves. “Celtic exposed us with the way they play and fair play to them, but no criticism in any way from myself to these guys,” he said.
Rodgers also praised the atmosphere at Celtic Park, saying it was a great experience for his players. “The atmosphere was electric,” he said. “The fans were fantastic, and it was a great experience for the players to play in front of that crowd.” He also praised the referee, saying he had a good game. “The referee was excellent,” he said. “He let the game flow, and he made some good decisions.”
In conclusion, the article highlights the challenges faced by Celtic in the first hour of the game, but also their ability to adapt and change the game with their substitutes. It also praises Falkirk’s performance and commitment to attacking football, and provides insight into the thoughts and feelings of both managers after the game.