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Brendan Rodgers spoke about being under intense media pressure going into Celtic\u2019s impressive 1-0 cinch Premiership win over Rangers at Ibrox.<\/p>\n
The Hoops went into the game on the back of a loss to Kilmarnock in the Viaplay Cup and a home draw to St Johnstone and with some key players missing, but Kyogo Furuhashi\u2019s late first-half strike stretched their lead over Rangers to four points after four games.<\/p>\n
After the game, Rodgers said: \u201cI understand I have been placed on death watch by the media.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut whatever the result today I\u2019m an experienced manager now and I\u2019m staying calm.<\/p>\n
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\u201cBut that\u2019s where you are powerless as a coach.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me I understand what we have, I understand what we are missing.<\/p>\n
\u201cUntil we get the level of player back that will make a difference in some of our games we have to keep working and developing and improving and I have absolutely no doubt we will do that as the season grows.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut listen, it\u2019s three wins and a draw in the league and some of the games have been good, but we are still piecing together a team which will look a lot more like it by the end of the season.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rangers were aggrieved at a VAR decision that went against them in the first half.<\/p>\n
Celtic defender Gustaf Lagerbielke was challenged by Cyriel Dessers just inside the Hoops half and the Gers attacker raced clear and squared the ball for Kemar Roofe, who took a touch before firing past Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart.<\/p>\n
When referee Don Robertson checked the pitchside monitor at the behest of the VAR, he ruled the goal out for a foul on the Hoops defender, albeit it looked soft.<\/p>\n
Rodgers said: \u201cListen, there is enough people looking at it now. As I said to Gus at half-time, \u2018you\u2019ve got to learn your lesson there\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve got to get the passing going quicker and he maybe needs another angle there quicker. But in saying that, as he turns around, he gets a nick.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you are Michael (Beale) and Rangers supporters you are maybe aggrieved. But at that point of the game we were dominating.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo if we had conceded then I wouldn\u2019t have been so happy.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut they had a good look at it for long enough, so we accept the decision.\u201d<\/p>\n
Amid an ongoing ticket spat between the clubs there were no travelling supporters \u2013 Celtic rejected the offer of around 700 tickets, citing safety concerns \u2013 which irked Rodgers.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cIt\u2019s not the same game. It\u2019s not the same game and it\u2019s such a shame.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook, it\u2019s brilliant for us. Our resilience and everything we had to show as Celtic players was there today. As a group we had to withstand a lot, but it\u2019s not the same game.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen there is not a single supporter there for you then you know you have to be a man. And for this group of players to come and do that and get the victory was absolutely brilliant.<\/p>\n
\u201cListen, I hope between the two clubs we can do that at some point.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s obviously going to be a challenge this year, so it\u2019s another year.\u00a0But it\u2019s not the same games.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you asked Rangers supporters, I\u2019m pretty sure some of their best wins they have seen from their team were away at the other ground.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully we will get back to that. Whether it\u2019s 7,000 or 8,000 or whatever, it\u2019s an iconic game, an amazing game.<\/p>\n
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\u201cAnd a big part of it is the supporters. So hopefully in time we can get that back.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut for us today to come here with no supporters and win\u2026hopefully wherever they are, Celtic supporters across the world will be proud of their team.\u201d<\/p>\n