Everything that Brendan Rodgers said to Sky Sports after Celtic's 2-1 Scottish Premiership win over Rangers
What does that win mean to you?
It feels great. It is obviously a very important win for us. December is always a tough month as there are so many games. I thought the atmosphere in the game was fantastic and the players played well on the surface which was difficult. We scored two very good goals. The only downside was when we were playing against ten men. We have to control the game much better than that. We have to keep our positioning better. We made the substitutes to give us energy and have that synchronisation again. We ended up giving the ball away too many times and we invited a bit of pressure when there was no need. Other than that I thought the mentality of the team was very strong and I am absolutely delighted for everyone.
Is it fair to say your captain led by example in terms of his performance, especially in the way he spurred everyone on?
Callum (McGregor) is at a different level. I have worked with him here the first time. We are very lucky to have someone like Callum as he is on a different level in terms of his view of the game, and his composure. He ended up having to play two positions. At times he was in that controlling position because he can play and progress the game forward. Then he is up there as an eight because he knows the runs he can make and what he can do in that position. He is an absolutely brilliant leader for this group and I am very lucky to have him here again as a manager.
Paulo Bernardo was talking about his first experience of the fixture and what it meant to him. Do you see him improving all the time and will his goal help him when you add it to the one he got on Boxing Day?
Yes. I think we are seeing progress. Paulo is a super professional whether he plays or doesn't play and he shows a great attitude to learn and he is always looking to improve. The goal in the week gave him confidence and his strike for our first goal was brilliant. We took him off as he had been booked and he had a couple of sort of ones that had gone close. We didn't want to go down to ten men in the game. He is progressing very well and I am delighted for him.
It would be remiss not to mention Kyogo. How key was his goal and the timing when you got it just after half-time?
READ MORE: Celtic instant analysis as Bernardo and Kyogo shoot down Rangers
We spoke about that. We had some good moments in the first half and we had to defend as well. For us again it was starting fast and it was our kick-off and we wanted to do that. It was a very good goal and we worked it well. His movement was excellent and his finish was absolutely sublime. To kick it onto that side and to put it past a keeper of Jack Butland's quality was fantastic. It gave us a great start to the second half.
Where do you feel Kyogo is just now? There were some questions weeks ago as to whether he was playing at his best. We have seen what he can do today. What are your own thoughts on that?
I don't think he is at his best but he is only a couple of goals away from last season's return. When you play at Celtic trying to sustain it is a challenge, especially after a couple of years of success. There will be a dip for some players, that is natural. He is still a great guy to have as he presses the game well, his movement is good and he is scoring important goals. As long as he is contributing to the team then that is all that really matters.
How is Stephen Welsh and how did that upset things in terms of the defensive change in light of what has happened in the last week?
He has been so unfortunate. He continually gets a knock and gets injured as his shoulder popped out and we will see how that pans out in the next couple of days. Maik Nawrocki hasn't featured much but I was delighted for him and he has come back in and he has had some knocks and been injured and for him to come in and play and contribute. I was really pleased for him. Matt O'Riley pushed through it with his nose injury and Greg Taylor had hurt his arm in the last 10 minutes. They showed a great spirit and mentality to see the game through.
To win a game like this people will ask how significant it is as it is still early in the season. What do you make of that?
There is still such a long way to go and it is nice for the confidence of the players to win at Ibrox and win here. We will get better in the second half of the season. It is a great win for us and I am delighted for the supporters. I just sensed there was some anticipation coming into this game and I could see the tension in their faces. They can really enjoy it and they can have a great night and we'll get ready for St Mirren on Tuesday.
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