Why has derby tide turned for Rodgers and Celtic?

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We need to show more personality - Rodgers

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17/03/25

Is the Old Firm pendulum perhaps swinging away from Celtic for the first time in Brendan Rodgers experience?

The Northern Irishman has still only lost three of the 22 derbies hes presided over, giving him a win percentage unsurpassed by any other manager in either clubs history.

And Celtic are seemingly on course to win at least a double this season, with a treble well within their grasp.

But amid that, there are some sobering statistics from their recent encounters with Rangers which the Celtic manager admits are giving him pause for thought.

For the third consecutive derby, they have conceded three goals.

They have lost back-to-back Old Firm games in the same season for the first time in more than four years. Thats the same length of time since their previous home defeat in the fixture.

The gap at the top of the table is still a healthy 13 points with eight games left, but the difference between the sides in their meetings appears to be narrowing.

And Rodgers admits he now has "a wee bit of thinking to do" as he seeks "more personality" from his players in the big games against Rangers.

The champions were unable to cope with the injury-enforced absences of captain Callum McGregor and centre-back Auston Trusty as - like at Ibrox in January -Rangers again hassled and harried them into a plethora of mistakes.

In fact, Barry Fergusons side could have scored more than the three they managed in what turned into a classic, five-goal epic.

"I think we need to show more personality to take the ball," Rodgers told BBC Scotland.

"We made too many mistakes with it, we werent fluid enough moving it, and we allowed ourselves to be pressed. We didnt play with that speed and quality.

"The performance level is something we need to look at. I dont think weve been as good as Id like us to be in these games of late.

"We get through and win the League Cup final, which was great, but again the performance wasnt at our highest level. At Ibrox, we were well beaten and we lose today, so theres a wee bit of thinking to be done."

There will be no panic, of course. Celtic are well on their way to what would be a 13th Premiership title in 14 seasons and potentially a sixth treble in nine years.

With such standards having been set, Rodgers is demanding more from his team in the derbies in particular, with one remaining at Ibrox this season.

"It doesnt matter if youre one point ahead or 16 points ahead, you have to play with personality and we havent done that," the Celtic manager added. "We need to be better than we were today."

Celtic were not their usual selves

16/03/25

That opinion was shared by two former Celtic heroes who know what its like to win - and lose - big derby games.

Former striker Chris Sutton rued the absence of McGregor and the "careless" way Celtic conceded, but said the consecutive derby defeats spoke more about Rangers that they did his old side.

"Rangers have beaten Celtic twice this season, but they are not going to win the league," he said. "They play well when the pressure isnt on.

"In many ways theyll be kicking themselves, because they can produce performances like today but theyre miles away."

Former team-mate Neil Lennon agreed, praising Rangers for showing "bundles of character" but noted Celtic "werent functioning as well as they could have done".

Given Rodgers win rate in the derby is still a healthy 73%, no-one across the city will be getting too carried away.

Firstly, because Celtic are still going to win the league. Secondly, because Rangers still have to welcome them to Ibrox after the split.

But the fact Ferguson and his side will be relishing the prospect of a third consecutive win in the fixture is significant in itself. They have given Celtic, and their manager, something to think about.

That challenge is good for the league and ultimately – if it sharpens their focus – good for Celtic too.