Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers: We now want to finish 2024 in a really good way

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is looking to finish a successful year in typically “relentless” fashion when his side host St Johnstone following just two defeats in 2024.

The Scottish champions’ 7-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund was a rare blip in a 12-month period in which their only other defeat came after Yang Hyun-jun’s early red card against Hearts at Tynecastle in March.

Celtic go into Sunday’s visit of the William Hill Premiership’s bottom side with a 12-point lead over Rangers, with all three major domestic trophies in their cabinet, and with a good chance of sealing Champions League progress next month.

The Hoops dropped points for only the second time this season when they were held by Dundee United last weekend, before beating Motherwell 4-0 on Boxing Day.

Rodgers said: “I think this time last year we’d lost a couple of games, maybe drawn three, so I can’t have too many complaints.

“I heard someone saying the other day, ‘there’s no need to panic’, because we drew a game. That was an interesting one…

“My idea is the long game. I’ve got to look after the whole campaign and get us through game after game when it’s so busy.

“Until this point, the players have been fantastic. When you think, having lost only two games this year, they’ve been absolutely superb. One of them away back with 10 men then one against the Champions League finalists.

“Apart from that, the players’ mentality, focus and drive has been relentless. We now want to finish 2024 in a really good way.”

Another impressive statistic is that Celtic have only conceded four goals in their 17 league matches, a fact that pleases Rodgers as much as their ability to find the net on a regular basis.

“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.”