At Celtic, Derby Day will mark the conclusion of the 2023 season, and Aaron Rodgers has a lot to think about going into the match.
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Even though they have only had a brief week to prepare, you can be sure that in the next 72 hours, when Celtic plays Rangers to close out the season, things will pick up speed.
A title race is undoubtedly underway, as there haven’t been many more significant Premiership Derby matchups between the two in recent memory. While there has been simmering discontent at Parkhead, Philippe Clement has the Ibrox side going strong. After losses to Hearts and Kilmarnock, board complaints have intensified.
Rodgers has also faced criticism, so Celtic needs to win. If the Rangers force them to give up points, they will be able to pass them if they defeat Ross County on Wednesday and go on to beat Hibs. The Parkhead manager has a lot to think about, but his team is in a better position going into Derby Day after victories of 2-0 and 3-0 over Livingston and Dundee.
But if you look a little closer, the Irishman realizes he has a few enigmas to solve.Record Sport examines six issues that Aaron Rodgers might want to think about before the weekend.
At the back, trust is essential.
Although Rodgers was happy with his three goals and three points at Dens Park, he will be furious about another injury to his important center-back, Cameron Carter-Vickers. With a hamstring ache, the USA international left the game, and Stephen Welsh replaced him as Liam Scales’ partner. Although there is a good chance he won’t make it on Saturday, this just serves to highlight concerns regarding summer recruiting. Maik Nawrocki, Nat Phillips, and Gustaf Lagerbielke were not included in the team to play Dundee.
The other player, who has Premier League experience, is on loan from Liverpool and the first two cost a total of £7.3 million. They are currently unable to field a team, let alone compete in a match, and that does not include Yuki Kobayashi. Celtic has a wealth of center backs, but not all of them can be relied upon. On the weekend, omissions would cause even more confusion.
Is this MJ’s moment to shine?
An unquestionable plus from the Tayside win was Mikey Johnston’s substitute appearance. In a huge boost for himself and the team as a whole, he scored his first goal in Celtic colors in four years and completed the double before the game ended. The only winger who has maintained any kind of consistency in terms of starts is Luis Palma, but the Ireland international is crossing his fingers that he has convinced Rodgers that he is deserving of a punt on Derby Day.
During his Old Firm debut in December 2019, Rodgers famously used Johnston as a loan striker at Ibrox, throwing him in at the deep end. However, as the manager pointed out, Johnston is an adult now and, should he pitch in at Parkhead, he will be expected to take the heat.
Turn the midfield wheel.
Another area where Rodgers has made frequent changes this season is the midfield, sometimes out of need and other times on his own initiative. In the midfield three, Callum McGregor and Matt O’Riley have virtually assured starting spots, but Paulo Bernardo, Tomoki Iwata, David Turnbull, and Odin Thiago Holm have alternated in the final position.
Throughout the season, only Turnbull and Iwata have started three straight games; the other two have not yet accomplished that feat. Hatate’s absence has been felt greatly, and even though Bernardo scored at Dens, it’s hard to predict who will finish in third. It seems evident that Rodgers hasn’t had a completely settled midfield, but only he knows what he is really searching for.
Kyogo observed closely
The Japanese forward flourished under Ange Postecoglou when he worked in tight spaces behind the defense and played off the opposition’s shoulder. Most of his goals have all come in and around the penalty area, but under Rodgers, he has been dropping deeper and isn’t given the same space. It has led to a decline in goals scored, and his miss against Dundee when trying to lob Trevor Carson looked like a talisman having trouble finding a rhythm.
Although Deputy Oh lacks the clinical skill, he does provide more of the physical component that Rodgers looks for in a striker. The awkward question of whether Kyogo’s strengths would play in this game surfaced, but his incredible victory at Ibrox the previous time out demonstrated what he is all about.
Taking a chance
Long-term absences Hatate and Liel Abada may both make a comeback from extended layoffs to play in this, according to Rodgers. Although neither will start, the Hoops will benefit greatly from having them as options off the bench.
But temptation follows, and if both are limited to playing for, say, twenty minutes, it will ultimately come down to a test of will to see if Rangers can establish a foothold and whether Celtic can utilize both players’ star quality. There will be a clear boundary between reward and risk.
Jekyll and Hyde’s original home
Two times at home since returning from the international break in November, Celtic has lost ground domestically. They drew with Motherwell, but the next time they played at home in the Premiership, they swept Hibs 4-1. After that, Hearts easily defeated them 2-0, and Celtic had to overcome a dull first half in which they failed to score in order to prevail by that margin against Livingston last Saturday.
Their home performances have lacked consistency, which has caused them to lose points. When a 90-minute performance is required on Saturday, they cannot allow that to occur.
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