Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers Addresses Team Leaks Amidst Thumping Win Over Aberdeen
Celtic’s 6-0 demolition of Aberdeen in the Premier Sports Cup quarterfinals was overshadowed by manager Brendan Rodgers’ frustration over repeated team leaks. Rodgers expressed disappointment after his starting lineup was revealed online before the match, echoing similar incidents earlier in the season.
Rodgers’ Reaction: Leaks Harm the Team
“It’s clearly disappointing,” Rodgers said. “It’s something we have seen before, and it’s not ideal. Modern game, there are no real secrets, that is the reality of it, but it’s not nice when it gets out there.”
Rodgers emphasized that if the leaks originated from Celtic supporters, they were not true fans. “Whoever is putting it out, if it’s someone from Celtic, you are not a Celtic supporter. You’re not helping Celtic.”
Pre-Match Speculation and Preparation
Rodgers revealed that previous leaks had allowed opposing teams to adjust their strategy. “I’ve had that before with other teams… I’ve then been told the day before a game, the team was going to play a totally different shape. We go in the next day, and the team is playing that shape. It really helped us to win the game.”
Aberdeen Thrashing: A Testament to Celtic’s Resilience
Celtic’s convincing win over Aberdeen showcased their attacking prowess, with Daizen Maeda scoring a hat-trick and Kyogo adding another. Rodgers praised his team’s “outstanding” performance, particularly in the second half.
“An outstanding team performance,” Rodgers said. “We knew it would be a challenge. We had to bring our A-game. And the players did that, in particular during the second half… We were ruthless. We worked the ball really well to create the space and made good runs.”
Rodgers’ Yellow Card: A Moment of Levity
Rodgers was booked for booting the ball in frustration during the match, prompting a humorous response. “I shouldn’t be falling over there! I think we will appeal the yellow card! I’m only joking. I bounced up pretty quickly. It was a good decision by Kevin.”
Celtic’s Next Challenge: Semi-Final Showdown
Celtic’s victory sets up a semi-final clash against either Motherwell or Rangers. Rodgers will look to maintain his team’s momentum while addressing the persistent issue of team leaks.