BRENDAN Rodgers hailed the Celtic supporters who braved Arctic conditions and travelled from afar to cheer on their heroes in Dingwall following his side’s hard-fought 4-1 victory over Ross County today.
Rodgers criticised sections of the Scottish champions’ fanbase following their victory over St Mirren at Parkhead last Sunday – he was unhappy they had booed a passback in the first half of the match and had chanted the name of Kieran Tierney near the end.
However, he singled them out for special praise in the wake of a result which sent the Glasgow club 18 points clear of Rangers at the top of the William Hill Premiership table.
The Northern Irishman revealed that he had highlighted the lengths which the Celtic fans had gone to in order to attend a league fixture in the Highlands that was played in sub-zero temperatures during his pre-match team talk.
“As I said to the guys before the game today, there's many reasons why we want to win,” said Rodgers. “I know a group of supporters that jumped onto a boat at 3.30 this morning to travel across, to then make the drive up to here that we drove yesterday.
“I told them they were going to stand in the freezing cold and watch a game. I said, ‘That is commitment. So at the very bare minimum, we have to match that commitment’.
“I knew that if we did, then quality and everything else would take us through the game. So it was brilliant for the supporters to be here in spite of the weather, brilliant for the players and a good day for us all.”
Celtic, who took the lead through Kyogo Furuhashi in the first half only for Jordan White to level from the penalty spot, needed three late goals to sew up all three points.
Furuhashi netted a second with 10 minutes remaining and Arne Engels and Luke McCowan scored in injury-time.
However, Rodgers was pleased with the attitude which his charges showed against their on-form opponents and with the contribution of Japanese striker Furuhashi, who had to played out wide due to injuries to Nicolas Kuhn and Daizen Maeda, during the course of the 90 minutes.
“I think it's that resilience that the team have,” he said. “You'll always find a way. The players did that exceptionally well. It's super cold and the pitch was really bumpy and lively, but we found a way.
“First half we could have been more than one up, should have been more than one up. Then they get pegged back with the penalty. But then the reaction was outstanding from there
“The guys coming into the game gave us a nice little change of energy and we ended up with a scoreline that really reflects the game. So we're really pleased.
“We knew that Don's team were going to be compact and tight, lots of players behind the ball. When you have a fast pitch, you can move the ball quickly. We knew that wasn't going to be the case today because of the conditions. But we still tried to do the right things and we get a reward in the end.”
Rodgers continued: “I thought Kyogo worked really well. You have to remember he was a winger when he played in Japan, that's what he was. He came into the club as a winger, so he has played there. But he is not like some wingers are.
“So it was a case of trying to bring goalscorers in and trying to find a way to be flexible to allow him to do that. I thought he and Arne [Engels] and Ali [Johnston] managed that really well on that side of the pitch.”
Asked if he was keen to keep Furuhashi at Celtic after stories linking him with a move to Atlanta United in the United States this week, Rodgers said: “Yeah, all the players. We want to improve the squad and develop the squad. His goals today? That's what he's all about. Great runs, getting round the box and getting us finished.”
Rodgers gave Republic of Ireland Under-21 internationalist Johnny Kenny his Celtic debut in the second half and he was pleased with the contribution of a striker who has spent the last two seasons at Shamrock Rovers on loan. “It was absolutely brilliant,” he said. “He is a young Irish guy who came in a few years ago, went back out and on and done really well. He as scored goals regularly, scored in Europe for Shamrock.
“To then come in and be given that opportunity? I was so pleased for him because it just means everything to him. He's deserved that wee run out that he's had. Him and Luke energised the game.”
