Celtic's Rodgers proud despite conceding 'De Bruyne' stunner

• Midfield masterclass by starting trio
• Why onfield decision for Rangers penalty should have stood
• Celtic were by far the better football team
• Knowing exactly where Matt O'Riley was going to put his penalty
• The authoritative figure that is Cameron Carter-Vickers

Everything that Celtic boss Brendan Rogers said after the 3-3 Scottish Premiership draw with Rangers

Can you try and sum that game up?

It was a fantastic game to be involved in. I am super proud of the team. How we played and managed the occasion in the first half was absolutely brilliant to be comfortable in the game and some of the level of our football was excellent. We attacked with the ball, we attacked without it. We could have been more comfortable at half-time. I was disappointed with the penalty. It gave them a little up in the game when we were clearly the better team. Ali (Johnston) who is on a booking has to be really careful in the timing of his tackles and I thought he was perfect with it. I thought the referee got it absolutely right on the field. He connected with the ball and the player simulated. Clearly, then they score the penalty and you expect something from Rangers. They get a deflected goal to make it 2-2 and you have then got to dig in and show you're heart and your desire as well as your football. Then we end up getting the third goal and it is a fantastic goal from Adam. We tried to see it through and Rabbi Matondo scored a brilliant goal. The whole thing leaving here with that performance and still with everything in our hands. What we showed today was the level of our football and our fitness and how we could deal with pressure and manage that. I was so proud of the team.

Was that the biggest disappointment that you were not able to hold on over the 90 minutes and get that win?

I am not disappointed. The game went on for another eight minutes. The game is never done until the final whistle goes. We kept fighting, we kept pushing with no supporters. Thankfully these are the last games with no supporters and we had to really stand up and be counted today and the players did that. You saw that in the first half.

Was that first-half display the best performance you have seen from your team this season?

No. I think we have played well in other games. The occasion makes it maybe feel like that. I thought in terms of composure on the ball and calmness on the ball and as soon as we lost it we had that impulse to defend. We had nothing really against us. Defensively we were consistent and strong. The only disappointment is that we did not make one or two of the other opportunities count.

The midfield trio were magnificent in the first half and did what you told them, didn't they? They held the ball and were calm under pressure as there was booing from even minutes, wasn't there?

Yes, that's right. The midfield trio were absolutely outstanding. The midfield is the jungle as that's where it's won. All three played together. Tomo (Iwata) was excellent. He is 27 today so that was a nice birthday performance by him. He won the ball and passed it simply. Matty looked a threat and Jack Butland made a great save from his header in the first half. It was a brilliant save. You see what Reo (Hatate) brings. He elevates the team to the next level with his composure, his touch and his play. These players will get fitter over the coming weeks as well. I thought that collectively the team was excellent.

Does this result leave you in a good position?

It puts us in a really strong position. We still have a lot of work to do as there are still six games to go. When you have your nearest rival to play again in front of 60,000 at home and you will be stronger again, I am very happy with that.

There was a moment in the second half when John Kennedy was struck with something in the second half. Can you tell us about that?

I don't know.

How surprised were you that the onfield decision was overturned for the penalty?

I've already said my feelings about it. It has happened and it is gone, so we move on.

Was your heart in your mouth when Matt dinked his penalty?

No. It wasn't actually. He has wanted to take penalties. He came into my office a few months back and said: 'Listen if you want to change penalty takers, I am here'. He asked the coaches but we knew where it was going and he showed that composure and I knew as he had practised it the other day.

READ MORE: Celtic Player Ratings as Cameron Carter-Vickers shines

Did you know that he was going to dink the kick?

 Yes. He had practised that and he said he was going to dink it down the middle.

It is a strange game as your centre-half was the best player in the park and yet you have conceded three goals. How impressed were you by Cameron Carter-Vickers?

I was really impressed. He is a top-class centre-half and he gives real authority in the game. You need that. You come to a stadium where you have no supporters and it is very passionate and it is a partisan crowd and you need your players to stand up and be counted and I thought he and the other guys did that. I thought Greg Taylor was excellent in the game and he anticipated well even when Abdullah Sima was running at him in the second half. We kept fighting and kept going. Overall, I am really pleased. Some may be disappointed that we didn't win but we were much the better football team in terms of how we tried to work the game and play. With a bit more precision in our passing, and we would have scored more goals. To be able to take that into the rest of the season with these players coming back. I am very excited about that.

Can I ask you about the contribution of Paulo Bernardo and Adam Idah as that was an excellent goal?

It was a great pass, a great weight. He can do that in the box can Adam, it was a fantastic finish. It was just unfortunate we could not hang on to it but we were undone at the end by a Kevin De Bruyne goal, it was a fantastic finish. I am really pleased with what I saw from the team today, and knowing Callum will get stronger and fitter, Hatate will do, and get them boys back. We are getting stronger.

What was your take on the melee and flare-up at the end?

Aye, it is normal in these games. I didn’t see so much of it. It is OK.

Is it important to accentuate the positives?

It is great we can come here and I said to the players afterwards, I can see they were disappointed they had not won. For a team that has been written off and told they are going through the motions all year, I think we turned up. This is the business end of the season and we are ready to turn up. I have nothing but positivity in how mentally they were in the game, how they approached the game, the courage they played with and knowing the back we have going forward. It will be immense for us.