NO sooner had he lauded his team for the level of their performance in a victory which has taken Celtic to the brink of completing only the fourth domestic treble in their history and Brendan Rodgers was demanding more.
“We are still a bit away from being where I'd want us to be,” said Rodgers as he reflected on an impressive 2-0 win over Rangers in the semi-final of the William Hill Scottish Cup at Hampden yesterday.
That was by no means a criticism of players who had just notched up their fourth win in their fifth meeting with their city rivals this season with considerable ease. Quite the contrary. The Irishman had been delighted with how his charges had acquitted themselves in such an important fixture.
Read more: Celtic on the brink of an historic domestic treble and period of unprecedented dominance
Yet, the former Swansea City and Liverpool manager remains convinced his side, who progressed to the final next month courtesy of a Callum McGregor goal in the first half and a Scott Sinclair penalty in the second, can improve further still in the future.
The way the Scottish champions dropped back after they had forged two in front concerned him and he will seek to eradicate that tendency from their play going forward.
“I thought we played absolutely brilliant in the game,” he said. “We saw everything you would want from your team in terms of composure, temperament and technical quality. In the first half in particular we were outstanding. We restricted Rangers to very few opportunities. We scored a great goal. The only disappointment was we didn’t score more.
“At 2-0 we were comfortable. Sometimes you look for the rest. That allowed them a little spell of about 15 minutes where they had a couple of opportunities. But you’re better to rest with the ball than without the ball. That was my only pointer in the game.
“But over the course of the game, to play a Celtic Rangers game to that level and that quality makes me very proud of the team. Obviously 12 months on to where they were last year it really shows the level they have gone to. I am very pleased.”
Emulating the achievements of Jock Stein in 1967 and 1969 and Martin O’Neill in 2001 and winning the League Cup, Scottish title and Scottish Cup in one season seemed an unlikely outcome after Rodgers had taken charge of his first game.
Read more: Top scorer Moussa Dembele a serious doubt for treble-chasing Celtic in Scottish Cup final
His side crashed to an ignominious 1-0 defeat to part-time Lincoln Red Imps in the second qualifying round of the Champions League over in Gibraltar back in July.
But asked if he was surprised to be one game away from completing a clean sweep of domestic trophies in his first term as manager, Rodgers said: “No. When you come to Celtic you are here to win.
“You are here to perform and there is always expectancy here at a club like Celtic.But I have enjoyed that element of it. I enjoy that pressure situation and obviously I've been asked to do it at a club I know well.
“It might have been different if you'd asked me after that game in Gibraltar. I knew I had a bit of work on my hands after that. But what's important is that we see progress. But there are real good signs throughout the course of the season and it's a pleasure to work with them.
“My job when I came in here was to get Celtic to cope with big games. But also understand that every game is a big game for Celtic. You don't prepare any more or any less, you always perform at a high level. That's why this team has been very good.”
One player who was instrumental in the victory yesterday was McGregor and Rodgers singled out the midfielder, who was given the nod to play just off lone striker Moussa Dembele, for praise afterwards.
Read more: Celtic on the brink of an historic domestic treble and period of unprecedented dominance
“You can't not mention Callum McGregor,” he said “He is playing at a high level and with good technique. He has got a goal in him as well. It's a wonderful finish.
"I'm really pleased for him that supporters are probably starting to take a little look at him and say 'this kid's a good player'. He might not be a European name. But he is a boy from Scot-land who is a technically gifted player, who knows the game and tactically performs to a real-ly high level. But collectively we were very good.
“Today was about the collective. Today was really about the team from the goalkeeper right the way through to the guys on the bench. I really enjoyed watching the team. I thought we looked like a top team that can play a possession game, can play with composure and can play through the thirds quickly.”
Rodgers felt that Rangers, who his Celtic side have beaten four times and drawn with just one this season, had shown definite signs of improvement since Pedro Caixinha took over as manager last month.
“Listen, Pedro is only in and I can see the items that he had brought to them,” he said. “They will get better, I’m really sure of that. But today was a day for Celtic and it was collectively a really, really top performance.”
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