Brendan Rodgers apologised to Celtic supporters after they misplaced back-to-back league video games for the primary time in a decade and mentioned his gamers lacked “desire and passion”.
First-half targets from Lawrence Shankland and Stephen Kingsley earned Hearts their first league win at Celtic Park since 2007, opening the door for Celtic’s title rivals Rangers, who can go prime in the event that they win their two video games in hand.
The Celtic supporters turned on the board through the recreation and booed the gamers off the pitch after a limp efficiency that noticed the membership’s 52-game unbeaten league house run come to an finish.
Stephen Kingsley celebrates after scoring to make it 2-0 to Hearts
“I want to apologise to the support base – I don’t think I have ever had to to that with regard to performance but today they deserve it,” Rodgers instructed Sky Sports activities Information after the sport.
“It is mid-December and also you get, 60,000-odd followers right here and the shortage of need and keenness was simply actually actually poor. It wasn’t the entire group, Callum Mcgregor was good, attempting to drive the group on, and one or two others.
“It is just that consistency and mentality. We won a game in midweek and have played some really good football at times. There is a mentality that you need to have consistently and we didn’t have that from the off.”
Brendan Rodgers mentioned Callum McGregor’s efficiency was one in all only a few positives
Pressed on why Celtic are struggling, Rodgers added: “It’s mentality and an ambition and a drive from inside and a spirit that retains pushing you.
“Guys like McGregor, who have this incredible mindset – he had to play two or three positions to try and get the team going in the game – that is something that comes from within. We need to activate that.”
Rodgers, who made two adjustments to the facet after Wednesday’s Champions League win over Feyenoord, accepted the blame for his gamers’ drop-off from midweek.
Kyogo Furuhashi missed Celtic’s greatest probability of the sport
“I think it is always hard after a game in the week,” he mentioned. “The performance level was nowhere near it – I take responsibility for that because I pick the team to go out and perform.
“So the result’s on me. However at a membership right here you want that consistency and mentality as a result of each recreation there may be an expectation to win. We’re taking part in in entrance of a full home, and we did not carry out, and that disappoints me.”
Rodgers says the blame for Celtic’s poor performances lies with himself and the gamers
Requested about criticism of the board, Rodgers added: “You do your talking on the pitch and today was on myself and the players. Today was nowhere near the level of a Celtic player and that is something that falls on me. So I need to find the answers for this group and to ensure we can gain that consistency in the team.”
Rodgers was reluctant to concede that Celtic had given Rangers encouragement within the title race after two consecutive league defeats, however acknowledged his facet have to step up their performances.
“There’s a long way to go,” he mentioned. “There’s so much more to play for but certainly what we have seen in the last week. We need to bring our game to a completely different level.”
What’s next?
Celtic’s subsequent Scottish Premiership match is at house to Livingston on December 23, whereas Hearts host St Mirren on the identical day.
Each matches kick off at 3pm.
