ZeeboiBrendan Rodgers likely finds himself with more on his mind than he’d prefer at this stage.
Celtic are still in contention for a potential Treble this season, but their latest showings haven’t reflected the form of a team chasing such lofty ambitions.
The loss to St Johnstone on Sunday delayed their title celebrations once again, a match that could—and arguably should—have sealed the championship in Perth.
However, recent setbacks, particularly the dismal performance in the Glasgow derby, have forced the soon-to-be champions to postpone their title-clinching moment until after the league split.
By the season’s end, Celtic will undoubtedly add more silverware to their collection, with a strong possibility of reaching 121 trophies—a record unmatched in Scottish football history.
Yet, that doesn’t shield the team from scrutiny, especially given their inconsistent displays in the league throughout 2025, marked by too many lackluster performances.
Rodgers didn’t mince words in his assessment following the St Johnstone defeat.
Brendan Rodgers questions Celtic players’ mentality after defeat to St Johnstone
For weeks, if not months, the inevitability of Celtic’s title win has been clear to all, including rivals Rangers—it’s merely a question of when.
But this shift in dynamic appears to have frustrated Rodgers, who senses that some of his squad struggle to handle the pressure of being frontrunners rather than underdogs, as he explained to Sky Sports Football.
His candid and sharp critique is precisely what’s required to uphold the exacting standards expected at Celtic.
“I think both very, very disappointing,” said Rodgers about the result and performance. “Listen, I want to give the credit to St Johnstone, because I thought, from the first minute, their fight was better than ours.
“They are obviously desperate for the points. We should be desperate for the points, but they made it really, really difficult for us. We just started off too soft in the beginning.
“We have chances, in particular in the second half, lots of pressure and lots of really good moments. But we were really disappointing.
On whether he is surprised: “No, it shouldn’t. We have got three sides of the ground today. All expectant. But what it is telling me, over the course of the season, especially this part of the season, is that expectation vs the underdog, and the players who can cope with that here, a club like Celtic.
“It’s easy when you are the underdog. When you are playing in Champions League games. You are fighting and running. Playing at Celtic is being able to do both. The expectation and how we have started games, especially over this last period, hasn’t been good enough.
“But that tells me something as a coach, so no, not overly surprised.”
Who might Rodgers be pointing the finger at?
One name immediately stands out, largely due to his recurring early exits from matches.
Nicolas Kuhn was pulled at halftime by his manager, alongside Jeffrey Schlupp, a recent January arrival.
Schlupp might escape the critique given his short time at the club, but Kuhn’s lack of form over recent months makes him a likely candidate for Rodgers’ remarks.
Arne Engels, also substituted during the St Johnstone match, has been under scrutiny lately as well, which doesn’t reflect well on him.
Daizen Maeda was another to be withdrawn, though as Player of the Year, he’s afforded the occasional dip, while Jota made way for James Forrest after 76 minutes.
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