Brendan Rodgers has warned his Celtic pace-setters have more gears to come as the Hoops boss looks to blast into 2025.
The champions maintained their Premiership push with their 4-0 Boxing Day bashing of Motherwell to bounce back from dropping points against Dundee United before Christmas. Rodgers’s men took some time to warm up against Well – with Arne Engels notching the opener from the spot in first half stoppage time.
The Hoops put the foot down after the break – with fit again Nicolas Kuhn and fellow sub Reo Hatate notching on the back of Daizen Maeda nabbing a crucial second. Celts had room to spare and Rodgers was pleased with his team’s ability to grind out results during the hectic festive period.But the Parkhead gaffer is convinced his side has more in the tank with St Johnstone up on Sunday ahead of the New Year Old Firm showdown at Ibrox.
He said: “Yes, I think there is still more to come. If you compare the performance level to the early parts of the season, obviously, of course, you’re playing less and you’re maybe not as fatigued or whatever else.
“But still, we still demand, even in a really hectic schedule, the intensity that we want to play at. That’s our intention getting into every game. It’s important that we continue to always look to up the level. And that’s what we continually look to do.
“Against United, we didn’t create as much in the final third. We arrived there but weren’t as ruthless or as clinical as we could be. But that was there today.”
Rodgers was thrilled to land a home clash on Boxing Day for the first time in 14 years – and give the punters some festive cheer.
He said: “The turnout was amazing. We love playing here and having not been here for so long, it’s always nice. It was really good, and we’re very pleased with the performance and the result in such a big period. Games aren’t easy – you’ve really got to work ever so hard. The scoreline may say that at the end, along with the possession and chances that we had, but you’ve still got to work very hard.
“Motherwell were well organised, compact, tight, with lots of numbers behind the ball, so you’re having to really shift them about and then you get that little break just before half-time.”
Rodgers was delighted to get Kuhn back from injury with the German notching his 13th goal of the season. He said: “In the second half, I felt we needed to get the tempo up that wee bit more and just keep that risk in the game. The players were excellent, the guys coming into the game were very, very good as well and gave us that speed and that relentlessness to keep going and keep trying to score.
“You look at the two wingers, they’re doing their job very well, creating goals, scoring goals. It’s great to have Nicolas back, just his speed and direct running and dribbling ability.
“Now he’s got the taste for goals, he wants to get in there. He had a brilliant pass as well to Reo towards the end which maybe could have got another goal. But overall, it was really good to have him back.”
Rodgers also hailed the performance of Engels with the Belgian midfielder back in the side after sitting out recent weeks. He said: “Yes, I just think it’s about time with him. He’s really enjoying his time here. I’ve taken him out for some games just to let him see from the outside looking in and take that pressure away from him because it’s a big move and everything that comes with it.
“But he’s been excellent in training and he’s only going to get better and better. When he’s asked to step up in pressure moments, he delivers and that was an important first penalty for us. His ball in for the corner was absolutely great as well. So I’m really pleased with Arne.”