Everything that Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers said to BBC Radio Scotland after the 2-0 Scottish Premiership loss to Hearts at Parkhead...
The fans were extremely unhappy at half-time and full-time today. Do you share that anger?
Listen, there is no doubt and firstly I have to issue an apology to the supporters. I don't think I have ever had to do that in my time here before or this time. The performance today was nowhere near the level of what is expected of a Celtic player and a Celtic team. We lacked any desire in our defending and we lacked that drive when we had the ball and that intensity. I felt like we could have played all night and not scored. We had plenty of shots and got into good areas. Ultimately we got done by a corner where we have been naively blocked and then from a free-kick. We were so passive in the build-up to them getting a free-kick. We suffered because we were missing that drive and determination.
You said you were as angry as you have ever been as a manager at McDiarmid Park against St Johnstone and then there was the second half at Rugby Park and then today. How surprised were you to see that?
Not, if I am honest. It is about consistency and mentality and I have seen it from within the team from time to time. I'm surprised that we have produced that level of performance at home. When I see the St Johnstone first half and having to activate that at half-time and then Kilmarnock away and today then it disappoints me greatly. We've not shown the necessary determination and our passive nature with and without the ball was a concern.
A lot of teams go through peaks and troughs. Has this team peaked? Is there a need for a refresh as you have talked about bringing in more quality and maybe you have sensed this coming and have some of the players gone as far as they can after the successes of the last couple of seasons?
READ MORE: Instant Celtic analysis as Hearts produce Parkhead shocker
That can happen to any group. It is one of the pitfalls of success. Teams when they have periods of success have to keep refreshing the squad and the quality. Listen, we have to reflect on it and it is a sore one for the fans and this is mid-December and I walked out and saw the crowd that was here and I thought let's put on a demonstration of our football and mentality. Sadly there were only a few players who stood up to it. I thought Callum McGregor was outstanding. He tried to drive his team on as a captain should do and he had to play a couple of positions to try and inspire the team. Overall, it was a disappointing result and I need to take responsibility for that.
The fans came here in big numbers and they had their say on the board. There are not many clubs who are top of the league and the supporters are saying sack the board as they feel there is too much money in the bank. Is that a fair comment from them?
My focus is on the performance on the pitch. That is what I concentrate on. The performance today from us all wasn't good enough.
You said you expected a tough run to the league title and that is assured now. Do you need new players? Is that the next thing for you in terms of the transfer window? You've got some massive games to come so how do you lift the players before the transfer window even opens?
Yes. It is my job to inspire the team and to produce the levels that are required here. That is my only focus and where my concentration will be. We now have a bit of time to reflect. To get our work in and get back here next weekend and put on a much better performance than we did today.
Do you still have no doubts that you can be top of the pile and champions again come the end of the season?
That is our ambition. When you are a Celtic manager you start every season and that is your ambition and nothing has changed from that. We have had a disappointing week in terms of results in the league. This is where you see the strengths of a Celtic player and you have to stand up and get ready for the next challenge.
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