Celtic: Manager Brendan Rodgers calls for calm & predicts title race will go to wire
- Published
Celtic dropped points for the first time in six Scottish Premiership games when they drew at Pittodrie
Manager Brendan Rodgers has called for calm amid the "crisis mode again" at Celtic and predicted the title race will go to the wire.
Fans unhappy with Celtic's transfer business protested against the board in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Aberdeen.
Having been seven points clear after seven games, Celtic are now level with Rangers in the Scottish Premiership.
"I never set out this season thinking you are going to win a league by 10 or 20 points," said Rodgers.
"You set out to be the very best you can be and meet the challenge that is in and around you. Clearly, the competition is there and it will be tight, I'm pretty sure, through to the end of the season.
"For us, it's just about really focusing on our own game and making sure we can have that consistency.
"We have the capacity to play well and win these big games, but I think it demonstrates a wee bit about where the team is at and how young some of the team is because we haven't been able to string it together for longer periods.
"We have gone four or five games, six games, whatever, and then that killer instinct just goes a little bit.
"But, listen, we have won six of our last seven, we have drawn one. I know the rules up here in Glasgow, how it works. But the key is you just stay calm."
Celtic travel to Easter Road - where Rodgers has never won in four visits - to face Hibernian on Wednesday night 24 hours after resurgent Rangers moved level at the top with victory over Aberdeen.
The Celtic boss believes the pressure of pursuing the club's third consecutive title can bring out the best in his players.
"The expectation is one of the huge things here at Celtic, whether you are players or the manager," he said.
"There are stronger leagues in Europe, but when you play and manage Celtic it's a real test of your mental fortitude as a person, dealing with expectation, pressure and everything that comes with it.
"There are not too many teams around Europe where you'll have four points out of six and it's crisis mode again.
"But I always think, while it can feel like that, that's the catalyst where you can continually improve."
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