Brendan Rodgers, feeling a tad aggrieved, addressed the discontent among Celtic fans following his decision to substitute Tomoki Iwata during the clash with Motherwell on Sunday.
In his first game back since December, Iwata was doing a commendable job in midfield until he was replaced by Paulo Bernardo in the 77th minute with the game poised at 1-1. This move, aimed at securing a win, was met with boos from a significant number of the away supporters, a reaction that Rodgers found perplexing.
In his press conference ahead of the Dundee game on Wednesday, Rodgers didn’t shy away from mentioning the incident. He highlighted the importance of making tactical changes, especially in today’s longer matches, “It’s very important, especially when you get booed for taking off a defender and putting on an attacker.
“That seemed strange. But I think it is important. The game now, going into 90-plus minutes, you’re talking 95 or 100 minute games now, so your bench is very important. Having the depth to bring players on and make an impact was very, very important.”
Rodgers, reflecting on the crowd’s reaction, highlighted the broader implications for the team and the player being introduced, speaking to Celtic YouTube he said “It doesn’t really matter to me. It’s more for the player coming on and for the team. I think it’s a negative reaction that I don’t quite understand. Your 1-1 in the game, you take off a defensive midfielder and put on an attacking player who has scored goals this season and you get booed. It just seems a little strange, but thankfully the players’ mentality on the pitch was superb. They kept going and they kept fighting and all the great work that they did, especially in the second-half in terms of tiring the opponent out, it led to the couple of goals at the end.”
He further discussed how the mood in the stands can seep onto the pitch, potentially affecting the team’s performance, “It’s not only for Celtic, it’s in general at any club. If that feeling rolls down from the stands and onto the pitch and it’s negative, then what do you expect? You’ll get players that will have a nervousness so the game will look different. Whereas if they have the positive reaction and that support… it’s like in life isn’t it? If you get that support and that feeling that people are behind you, then you’ll have a greater chance to succeed.”
This stance underscores Rodgers’ belief in the power of positivity and support, both on and off the field, and its essential role in achieving success.
