“At The Very Least” – Brendan Rodgers Makes Feelings Clear after Derby Defeat

Brendan Rodgers has expressed his frustration after Celtic suffered a late 3-2 defeat to Rangers at Celtic Park, despite a spirited second-half fightback.

Celtic found themselves 2-0 down at the break following an unusually poor first-half display. However, Daizen Maeda’s header and Reo Hatate’s composed finish brought them level and appeared to give the Hoops control heading into the closing stages. But a stunning late strike from Hamza Igamane sealed Celtic’s first home league defeat since December 2023.

Reflecting on the loss, Rodgers admitted his team fell short of their usual standards for much of the game but felt they had done enough to at least secure a draw.

“That was the feeling,” he told Sky Sports. “The early goal in the second half was really good for us—great move, great cross, and Daizen gets his goal. That lifted the energy in the stadium. Then we got the second, and from that point, I expected us to really push on. At the very least, we should have taken a point, so to lose in that manner was frustrating.”

The defeat cuts Celtic’s lead to 13 points, postponing their title celebrations until after the Premiership split. While a tough result to take, Rodgers knows his team remains in a commanding position in the title race.

Now, the focus will be on ensuring this setback doesn’t derail their momentum as they push for a fourth consecutive league title. Lessons must be learned quickly—this marks the third derby in a row where Celtic have failed to perform, something that cannot continue.