Brendan Rodgers on what people ‘won’t understand’ about Celtic’s attacking fluidity this term

Brendan Rodgers on what people ‘won’t understand’ about Celtic’s attacking fluidity this term

Brendan Rodgers has Celtic playing some exciting football in the early stages of the new campaign and supporters will be hoping their side can continue to deliver in the coming weeks.

 

Offensively, the Bhoys have registered nine goals in their opening fixtures against Kilmarnock and Hibernian, with Nicolas Kuhn emerging as a star performer on the right flank among others.

On the same token, Celtic have carried an element of defensive solidity, conceding just once to a spectacular Mykola Kukharevych header last weekend in the Premier Sports Cup.

 

From a stylistic point of view, the reigning Scottish Premiership champions appear to have kicked on from last season. Despite operating in the same formation, their build-up play has increased in intensity, which has seen a slew of chances created over their first 270 minutes of competitive football.

Speaking to official club channels, Brendan Rodgers has shed some light on why his side have been able to impose their style so well.

 

Brendan Rodgers on Celtic’s attacking structure

Speaking in his latest interview with Celtic TV, Rodgers has referenced the importance of Celtic’s off-ball work as a vital component of the Bhoys’ strong start to the campaign.

He stated: “Repetition is important. I think (for) all those patterns and movement patterns that you’re looking to create, but also, you’re having to stimulise imagination and creativity as well.

 

“For us, we’re very structured in how we play. There’s freedom and flexibility within that, but what lots of people won’t understand is the attacking side all comes from the defensive attitude. We see the speed in the game; we see the attacking combinations; those moments are all very, very good, but passing the ball and pressing the ball are like twins.

“They come together, and if you notice how well the team is pressing the game and how they’re doubling up around opponents and, at times, having three or four around the opposition player, that is really what provides the attacking rhythm in the game, so that’s something that we really focused on over the course of pre-season and that marries in with the offensive side.

 

“There’s very, very few of the top teams that that you’ll find in football that play great football and then aren’t so good when they don’t have the ball, so (working) against the ball is equally as important as with the ball and that creates the attacking rhythm.”

Celtic are hungry for further success this term under Rodgers

Cameron Carter-Vickers signalled Celtic’s hunger for further success this term, and it appears that the squad are in line with their manager’s vision to try and turn their aspirations into reality.

 

Having a collective buy-in from players to coaches is critical to building the foundations for silverware. Ultimately, the team ethic to press and win back possession is as important as any individual player; the club has high standards that nobody can afford to fall below.

Rodgers won’t tolerate any passengers. His system works best when energised by a dynamic, hungry collective that are willing to do the dirty work to see the reward of their efforts.

 

At present, Celtic are reaping the benefits of this practice. Hopefully, their intensity can continue to breed a relentless commitment to winning football matches.