John Hughes reminds panicking punters that Rodgers is an elite tactician and will know exactly how to get the champions firing again.
Celtic fans believed Brendan Rodgers could do no wrong during his first spell at Parkhead.
The Hoops boss could have been chucked a couple of loaves and a few fishes and been expected to whip up a spectacular buffet, walking on the water before turning it into wine. But there’s a growing sense of Celtic punters losing faith in the gaffer this season.
Performances have failed to hit the heights and results have started to catch up as an eight-point lead turned into a two point deficit to rivals Rangers. Rodgers is in uncharted territory with criticism coming from the stands with punters questioning everything from signings to tactics. A fair few want Rodgers to rip up the possession-based game plan but former Celt John Hughes admits he’s stunned to see the finger being pointed to the dugout. Big Yogi is convinced Rodgers will stick to the principles that have produced the goods over the years at Parkhead – and the punters need to keep the faith.
Hughes said: “I can’t believe the criticism of Brendan. We are talking about an elite manager. This is a real tactician – who is up there with the best of them. You don’t throw your principles out of the window when you’ve had great success doing it.
“Listen, there’s no getting away from the fact they have let an eight-point lead slip. But every time they have faced Rangers they have come up with the goods and you just know he will be working hard to get going again.
“Brendan’s analysis has been spot on. He’s said they have been a bit too slow, needing to produce the intensity for 90 minutes, beating the low block – it’s nothing he’s not identified.
“I’ve been watching him from a coaching point of view and you can see he’s trying things, going to the 4-4-2 with Kyogo just off Adam Idah. He’s doing everything he can to help the players. Brendan knows exactly what is required.
“It can change in a heartbeat. They can produce a performance for 90 minutes and score a few goals, all of a sudden the confidence rises and the momentum comes back.
“Celtic have winners in that dressing room. You pick up injuries, some guys go off form, it can happen. But winners come back. It’s only a matter of time before Celtic hit form again – that’s what they do at this time of year.”
A lot of the fan frustration has come from the sideways passing at the back. Killie got wise to it at the weekend and pressed high to force mistakes but Hughes knows Rodgers won’t resort to route one. Instead fortune favours the brave and the Hoops defenders needed to be bolder rather than going safety first.
The former Scottish Cup winning Inverness boss said: “He’ll want them to keep playing from the back. When you are playing against these low blocks, you need to be the protagonists and build from the back.
“It’s not easy. I watched Man City the other night and they found it difficult against Brentford.
“You see them passing it back and forth and back to the keeper, there is method behind this, but sometimes it takes a bit of bravery to make the killer pass when it’s on. When confidence is a bit low, then there’s always the temptation to take the safe option.
“But Brendan will be telling them to be brave. You need to pick those passes to allow the magicians in the side – the guys like Matt O’Riley, Kyogo and Luis Palma – to get at teams at the other end.”
Hughes is convinced Celtic’s form will turn – and the potential return of Cameron Carter-Vickers this weekend at Motherwell could prove pivotal. The big centre half has left a gaping hole in the side this season and getting him back for the run in would be a major boost to the Hoops title hopes.
Hughes said: “Carter-Vickers has been a huge loss for me. He is absolutely massive for Celtic.
“You look at Reo Hatate, one of the players of the year last year, and Carter-Vickers, who could have been the player of the year. Carter-Vickers coming back will be a huge boost for Brendan. He’s a rock at the back and he’s a major part of the way they play out from the back.
“I know there’s been some criticism of the centre backs. But Liam Scales has gone up the gears and become a mainstay. I like a left sided centre half as well.
“I like Welsh as well, he never lets you down, he’s just a lad that just needs games after struggling with injuries. A lot is made of the guys who are not playing. It’s funny, the less players play, the better they get sometimes.
“The only option that matters is the managers and Brendan will see them in training. It might be that they still need to develop a bit more, but he will pick the team he feels is best equipped. People will look at the form of Rangers but Celtic will embrace the challenge. The fans will be edgy but the message in the dressing room will be to stay calm.
“They have been here before and know what it takes. The players will be hurting for giving that lead away. Brendan will be hurting more than any of them. It’s gone now and it is all about the next 12 games.”
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