Celtic’s recent performance decline has been deeply concerning for the team’s fans.
They were in great shape, physically fit, and performing at their peak after their 6-0 victory over Aberdeen just before the international break.
However, after two draws and two losses, they appear to be a mere shadow of the dominant Celtic team that secured a treble last season, with most of the same players still on the team.
What could be the cause of this sudden dip in performance? Could it be the impact of their losses in the Champions League on their confidence? Or maybe it’s the injuries to key players? Or perhaps the team just needs new blood?
The answer may be more apparent than we realize and it has been evident for weeks now.
Consider this: How would you feel if you went to work every day and your manager kept insisting that your team was not good enough whenever results didn’t go their way?
Whether it’s in football, a store, or a local fast-food joint, being constantly told that your team lacks the quality to achieve the desired results can be demoralizing.
Rodgers has been doing just that after almost every poor result this season, starting with the Champions League losses against Lazio and Atletico Madrid.
Even after the long-awaited victory over Feyenoord, Rodgers couldn’t resist bringing up the need for additional players, despite the significance of the European result for Celtic.
No wonder the team’s performance has been lacking in quality. I’m not suggesting that Rodgers has lost control of the Celtic dressing room, but as someone who has managed a business with over 100 employees, I understand that publicly criticizing them whenever there is a drop in profit or a decline in performance would quickly demotivate them.
Rodgers should now keep these concerns within the confines of his discussions with the Celtic board. It’s time to stop airing these grievances in the media and focus on working with the players at his disposal.
That’s why he is the highest-paid manager in Celtic’s history. The point has been made, now it’s time to move on.
