2 hours ago
2
You could question the timing of Brendan Rodgers’ automobile analogy in the aftermath of Sunday’s defeat at Dens Park.
The purpose it served in terms of reminding a distinctly average squad of their limitations was also unclear.
In terms of keeping the uneasy peace with those who employ the Northern Irishman, it was certainly no act of diplomacy.
What was beyond all debate, though, was that the Celtic manager was on the right track.
It could be argued that comparing the team to a Honda Civic - a reliable old piece of tin - was to talk up its merits. Celtic are currently anything but efficient and dependable.
A first loss on the road to Dundee since 1988 was no accident. Like the motorist who strips out the engine and makes do with sub-standard components, it was a long time coming.
Rodgers must hope his Honda Civic analogy does not come back to haunt him against Sturm Graz in the Europa League
Brendan Rodgers trudges off the pitch after his Celtic team's shock loss at Dundee
As 2024 ended, Rodgers reflected with pride on the fact his side had lost just twice in the calendar year to Hearts and Borussia Dortmund.
The midway point of 2025 came up with seven losses sustained in five months. Matt O’Riley, Liel Abada and Kyogo Furuhashi had left the building, and Nicolas Kuhn was set to join them.
With their creativity and firepower diminished, Celtic needed a significant summer reboot. Instead, a club with tens of millions in the bank spent weeks submitting derisory offers then blamed the rest of the world when the window closed with the squad in a pitiful state.
In 14 competitive matches, a further three losses have been chalked up. Rodgers’ side have failed to score on six occasions. The 11 goals they have managed in eight league matches is equalled by Kilmarnock and bettered by Hearts, Hibs, Dundee United and Motherwell.
Not since the days of Tony Mowbray has a Celtic team lacked so much guile and quality. Quite how the jalopy gets any sort of momentum going is anyone’s guess.
‘I think we all knew what we needed in the summer and, for whatever reason, we weren’t able to bring that level in, and at the right time,’ Rodgers reflected.
‘I can’t afford to look back. I understand if you’re looking from the outside in and if you’re a supporter, of course, you would do that and that would be a real sense of frustration. As a coach and manager, we knew what we had to do.
Rodgers has argued that he has not been allowed to replace players with the speed of Nicolas Kunh
Striker Kyogo Furuhashi has also never been properly replaced at the Parkhead club
‘We weren’t able to do it and now we live with that consequence. But we have to find a way to win games and I’m relentlessly looking at solutions.’
At one point at Dens Park, Celtic had 96 per cent possession. The truth of the matter was that Dundee could gave replaced goalkeeper Jon McCracken with a crash test dummy and still kept a clean sheet.
Keeping the ball for the sake of it, Celtic’s performance made for a tough watch for their fans. Rodgers, of course, is paid a lot of money to ensure whatever players he has at his disposal do much better.
‘It’s something that we constantly look at and think about in terms of personnel and team shape,’ he added.
‘You’ve seen on Sunday, we’re obviously down in the game, so we change the system. We have two strikers, two wingers on the sides, two attacking eights in midfield.
‘I think that’s what I have to do (look at alternatives) but, at the same time, you’re having to find some level of stability as well.
‘That is important and that hopefully allows you to find the tempo and the speed in the game that you actually want so you can deliver the best performance that you can.’
A dysfunctional team is only reflective of the club at large. When a club hoards millions through transfers but is unable to sign adequate replacements, it suggests there’s an issue with those running the show.
Celtic fans made their protests at Dens Park last Sunday and they are set to continue
Rodgers' Celtic have been a shadow of the team who cantered to the title last term
Showing no ability to read the room after a disastrous window closed, the Celtic board sought to blame everyone apart from themselves.
The upshot is the biggest disconnect since before Fergus McCann arrived on the scene. We’ve not seen the last of the protests that delayed the start of Sunday’s match.
Rodgers’ problems go beyond trying figure out a way to break down a low block.
‘It’s clearly a huge challenge because it’s not just on the field, it’s off the field,’ he said.
‘I love this club, I want this to be the best it possibly can be.
‘It’s not the face I want us to show, what we’ve seen at the weekend, both off the pitch and on the pitch. That isn’t what Celtic is about for me.
‘It’s not meant to be easy. It’s not all about winning trebles and doubles and all that. You have to stand up and fight or else it’s over. We’re a club that’s a huge institution, a remarkable history and I’m very privileged to manage it.
‘There’s absolutely no doubt we’re in a difficult moment and we have to stand together and come through it.’
While all games are big at Celtic, the next four - Sturm Graz in the Europa League on Thursday night followed by Hearts, Falkirk and Rangers - feel absolutely critical.
The fear of many supporters who watched on at Dens was that the side just don’t have the wherewithal or the spirit to come through that testing period unscathed.
‘I think that I’ve never been so more motivated in my time at Celtic,’ Rodgers insisted.
Dundee were by far the better team as they defeated the champions 2-0 at Dens Park
Joe Westley celebrates after Cameron Carter Vickers' own goal helped the Dark Blues to a famous victory
‘If I look at my own style as a coach, I would say I’m a transformational coach, it’s a transformational style.
‘So, I think I can come into a club and teach and inspire and motivate players. At this point in time, I can’t be any more motivated to turn it around.
‘It’s okay when you’re winning trophies and playing great football and everything else.
‘We have all have seen the challenges from the summer through till now and the continuation of that. I’m so determined to try and turn the feeling around, the feeling on and off the pitch.
‘Because, for me, it’s not what Celtic is about and not what Celtic should be about. ‘This is an amazing club. Yeah, you will get frustrated at times.You’re very human and you will get disappointed, like at the weekend. I can never, with the greatest respect to Dundee, expect a Celtic team to go on and lose.
‘That’s what I’ve always felt. We were talking six months ago about the challenge in the latter stages of Champions League and now we’re losing these types of games. So, I’m super motivated to do the very best that I can for this club.’
