Brendan Rodgers reckons Celtic are the only team in Scotland held to high standards regarding results and performances.
It comes after his side secured their place in the Scottish Cup semi-finals with a 4-2 win over Livingston yesterday. A topsy-turvy kind of game, the Hoops’ display was nowhere near the level required.
Post-match, the gaffer recognised this and admitted that Celtic were sometimes guilty of playing into Livi’s hands.
The Lions did give it a good go and could’ve gone 3-2 ahead just before the hour mark if Joe Hart wasn’t alert.
The quality of the Celts eventually shone through, however. Daizen Maeda and Kyogo scored late on to secure the victory.
Post-match, the manager outlined his desire for his team to not just win, but win by playing good football: “We always want to perform”, he said (BBC Sportsound via Glasgow Times).
“There’s probably not another team in the country that’s held up to winning and performing. Other teams will grind it out and get a result, we know we have to win and play well.
“We didn’t play well today, little patches were OK, but we won and we’re into the semi-final. That makes me very happy.”
Particularly this season, Rodgers knows all too well the high standards held among the Celtic supporters. Boos rang around Parkhead following a 1-0 win over Ross County in January.
Although the performance still wasn’t quite at the required standard yesterday, it was better than against the Staggies a few months ago. Four goals were scored, and there were a host of positives to take as the Celts moved into the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup.
