Celtic's remarkable defensive record is just as eye-catching as the sheer number of goals that they have scored in their opening 17 Scottish Premiership matches.
Brendan Rodgers' side sit comfortably clear at the league summit having established a 12-point lead over Rangers. And the Celtic manager is eager to watch his team maintain their "relentless" approach to close out 2024 when they host bottom-placed St Johnstone at Parkhead on Sunday.
The Glasgow giants have conceded just four times in their first 17 top-flight games - a statistic that highlights their defensive prowess. They have netted a whopping 48 times throughout that same period.
While Celtic faced a rare setback with a 7-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League on October 1, their only other loss this year occurred after Hyun-Jun Yang was sent off against Heart of Midlothian in early March.
Read more:
- KMI panel have say on Rangers & Celtic Boxing Day pen decisions
- Celtic midfielder's playing time dwindles, transfer interest grows
These statistics at both ends of the pitch really please Rodgers as they strive to maintain their domestic dominance.
“It’s always the balance in identity,” he said. “That’s been the really pleasing aspect of the team for me. I like a team that’s adaptable and can play in all the phases of the game.
“This is a team now that can press, be aggressive, and be relentless within that. There’s also times when they can play on the counter attack. There’s times when they can defend that bit deeper and be resolute. Then there’s games where we can dominate and create.
“The pleasing aspect over 2024 has been the adaptability in the team to play in different phases of the game.
“Our intent is always to create goals and score goals. But that also is through your defensive tightness, organisation and pressing. As a team the balance has been really good.”
