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 “need and keenness”.
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 throughout the sport and booed the gamers off the pitch after a limp efficiency that noticed the membership’s 52-game unbeaten league dwelling run come to an finish.
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Stephen Kingsley celebrates after scoring to make it 2-0 to Hearts
“I wish to apologise to the assist base – I do not assume I’ve ever needed to to that with regard to efficiency however at present they deserve it,” Rodgers informed 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 crew, Callum Mcgregor was sensible, attempting to drive the crew on, and one or two others.
“It’s simply that consistency and mentality. We gained a sport in midweek and have performed some actually good soccer at occasions. There’s a mentality that you have to have persistently and we did not have that from the off.”
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Brendan Rodgers mentioned Callum McGregor’s efficiency was one in every of 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’ve this unbelievable mindset – he needed to play two or three positions to attempt to get the crew going within the sport – that’s one thing that comes from inside. We have to activate that.”
Rodgers, who made two modifications to the facet after Wednesday’s Champions League win over Feyenoord, accepted the blame for his gamers’ drop-off from midweek.
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Kyogo Furuhashi missed Celtic’s finest probability of the sport
“I feel it’s all the time exhausting after a sport within the week,” he mentioned. “The efficiency degree was nowhere close to it – I take duty for that as a result of I choose the crew to exit and carry out.
“So the result’s on me. However at a membership right here you want that consistency and mentality as a result of each sport 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.”
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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 speaking on the pitch and at present was on myself and the gamers. Right now was nowhere close to the extent of a Celtic participant and that’s one thing that falls on me. So I want to seek out the solutions for this group and to make sure we will achieve that consistency within the crew.”
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 is a lengthy solution to go,” he mentioned. “There’s a lot extra to play for however actually what we now have seen within the final week. We have to carry our sport to a totally completely different degree.”
What’s subsequent?
Celtic’s subsequent Scottish Premiership match is at dwelling to Livingston on December 23, whereas Hearts host St Mirren on the identical day.
Each matches kick off at 3pm.