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Brendan Rodgers insisted he shouldered full responsibility for the latest defeat which left Celtic floundering behind Hearts in the title race.
The 3-1 loss at Tynecastle extended a dismal start to the Parkhead side’s Premiership defence.
With 10 points having been dropped in the nine opening league fixtures, Celtic are now eight behind Derek McInnes’ on-form side.
The downturn in form has come amid fan unrest at a dismal summer transfer window which has seen supporters point the finger at the hierarchy.
Rodgers, though, was adamant that no-one should look beyond him for a reason why the side seem unable to find any level of consistency.
‘I’ve always taken responsibility,’ he said. ‘There’s never been a time that I haven’t.
Brendan Rodgers took full responsibility for 3-1 defeat that left Celtic eight points behind Hearts at top of Premiership table
Rodgers congratulates McInnes but he was later criticised by Kris Boyd for taking an apparent pop at Hearts' style of play
McInnes gives a thumbs-up after his team's superb victory over Celtic at Tynecastle
‘So, I suggest when you’re saying: ‘Is there a time?’ There’s always a time. When you’re the manager at Celtic, you’re responsible for the results, despite whatever else happens. So, that responsibility is on me.’
Rodgers has won four titles across his two spells in Glasgow but now faces a major battle to win a fifth.
The Northern Irishman insisted, however, that his determination to turn the situation around was beyond question.
‘Absolutely fine,’ he added. ‘I’ve never worked harder in all my time here. So. the motivation is there to try and flip the levels that we’re at.
‘It’s still so early. I think that’s the key point in it all.
‘Hearts have made a fantastic start, got the points on the board, but there’s so much football to play.
‘We’ve just got to hang in there at this moment, find those performances, find the results and hopefully our levels will improve as the season goes on.
‘I think the context of today is obviously disappointing in the game and the result. But there are 29 games left.
Lawrence Shankland runs away to celebrate after Dane Murray's own goal put Hearts in front
Callum McGregor equalises for Celtic but the skipper's joy was to prove short-lived
‘And if Hearts are at their best today, then of course if we can find a consistent level of performance, then there’s absolutely no doubt we can make up the points difference.’
Rodgers was later accused of a lack of respect by Sky Sports pundit Kris Boyd after he appeared to criticise Hearts’ style of play.
The Parkhead boss had told Sky: ‘Celtic is a club whose DNA is about playing football and we will never lose that. Hearts, you can see, it’s a totally different DNA here. The ball is direct, the supporters love that, it’s a second-ball fight, it’s set pieces... all that.
‘Celtic hasn’t become winners in that way. Our DNA is to play a fast, attacking football. The system we play is irrelevant but the style of football at Celtic is fast, attacking football and at the moment we are too inconsistent with that.’
Ex-Rangers striker Boyd responded: ‘To have a go at McInnes for the way (Hearts) played, it’s so disrespectful for me. Hearts have bullied Celtic all over that pitch.
‘Celtic didn’t come here and dominate and win... they got bullied. Deal with it.
‘You’re talking about fast, attacking football – that’s not their DNA. Winning is Celtic’s DNA.
‘The way he spoke there was as if the goalkeeper was getting it in his hands and just launching it. Like the defenders are kicking it high in the air and it was like a game of rugby. It was absolutely nothing like that.’
Rodgers was effusive in his praise of his side’s display against Sturm Graz last Thursday, only to see them wilt in the second half in Gorgie.
‘It was a disappointing performance overall,’ he reflected.
Alexandros Kyziridis puts Hearts back in front with a super strike at start of second half
Kyziridis celebrates with McInnes after the player provided Hearts with a 2-1 lead
Shankland is congratulated by team-mates after his penalty sealed a vital 3-1 win
‘Two different styles of play, two teams not creating so much. Still, I felt at half-time we had the chance to go in at 2-1.
‘We didn’t quite make that happen and then we were disappointed with the two early goals in the second half.
‘We’re just lacking that bit of quality and creativity in the final third that our Celtic teams normally have, with that relentless nature to it.
‘So, yes, a game we should take something from, but we didn’t play well enough and made some basic mistakes to lose the game.’
Brought in for the injured Cameron Carter-Vickers, Dane Murray had a day to forget with the defender scoring an own goal then felling Claudio Braga as Lawrence Shankland put Hearts 3-1 up from the spot.
‘Listen, I think it’s all about learning when you’re a young player,’ said Rodgers.
‘Dane’s been in and around it now for a little while. He’s played in some games for us and come into games.
‘So, yes, if you want to play for Celtic, these are the challenges that you want to come and perform in. Listen, he’s a good kid. He trains really, really well. We were looking for him to give us the balance. He won some great headers, some really good moments.
‘It was just unfortunate how he started the game. But he kept going, showed his mentality and, yes, he’ll learn from the mistakes.’
The only positive news for Rodgers is the fact that Daizen Maeda is set to return to training on Monday ahead of the midweek clash with Falkirk, although Alistair Johnston and Kelechi Iheanacho are both said to face ‘a few weeks out’ with hamstring issues.
