Celtic

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "I've got to be pleased. Seven games in 23 days. We've won six playing absolutely fantastic. We've lost one against the Champions League finalists, which we will learn from.

"We showed a great resilience and mentality in the second half.

"First half, there wasn't a lot happening, we had a lot of the ball but it was very slow, too passive, no real tempo in it. We looked like we wanted an easy game and that's not what this team's about.

"Second half, we were very good, especially with the introduction of players coming in to give us that energy. We deserved to win the game but we want to win it in the best way, and first half we didn't quite do that.

"Last weekend, St Johnstone was a tough game but our energy was good right the way through.

"We learnt today that there are no easy games, especially on the back of a European tie."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

While their performance in Germany took a battering, Celtic’s belief did not. Even though not cutting County apart, there was a sense the winner would come.

The dominance was not on show in the first half, but in the second it was one-way traffic, though it just wasn't filtering into the final third.

Through substitutions and words at the break, Rodgers' side grasped the game.

Kuhn will grab the headlines as his strong start to the season continues - he now has 14 goal contributions - but Kyogo, James Forrest and Paulo Bernardo injected some much needed invention in an otherwise uncreative Celtic side.

Arne Engels did not shine, while Reo Hatate and Adam Idah failed to make a real impact after their midweek benching.

However, after a relentless run of fixtures, the champions can head into the international break with their unbeaten start in tact.

Nicolas Kuhn had the crucial, killer-instinct to cut inside and fire a fabulous strike into the far side of the net and spark bedlam in the stands.

It wasn't his most rounded Celtic showing, but, he came up with the big moment once more on an afternoon it was all about collecting the three points.

Image source, SNS

Luis Palma is a surprise omission from the Honduras squad to allow him to concentrate on fighting for his future at Celtic. (El Heraldo via Sunday Mail, external)

Brighton & Hove Albion and Republic of Ireland striker Evan Ferguson has revealed he had trials with Celtic as a youth. (Open Goal podcast), external

Read the rest of Sunday's Scottish gossip.

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

Ross County hope to have Josh Reid back in contention after the left-back missed the last three matches through injury.

Will Nightingale, an unused sub last weekend, drops out and joins fellow defenders George Harmon (ankle) and Ricki Lamie (Achilles) on the sidelines.

Celtic will be missing injured defenders Cameron Carter-Vickers (toe) and Greg Taylor (calf).

Image source, SNS

Liam Scales is targeting a clean-sheet record when Celtic take on Ross County in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.

Brendan Rodgers' side are yet to concede in the league this season after six games, and will equal the Scottish top-flight record of seven consecutive shutouts if they keep a clean sheet in Dingwall.

Rangers started the league season with seven clean sheets in a row under Steven Gerrard in 2020-21, and Scales wants Celtic to emulate that and bounce back from their 7-1 Champions League defeat by Borussia Dortmund.

"We know if we can have a good foundation, keep a clean sheet, we're more than likely going to score goals and that’s going to win us games with the attacking quality we have," Scales said.

"So it does give us something else to aim for, to keep going on this run and go as long as we can really."

The centre-back says Celtic have already "moved on" from their difficult night in the Champions League.

"It's in the past now and we've sort of moved on with an important game coming up at the weekend and we know that if we get results in the rest of our games in the Champions League, we have a chance of qualifying," he said.

"It was a tough one to take, but we don’t dwell on it, we’ve moved on from that now.

"We just do what we usually do. We have our meetings, we have our analysis. Nothing changes. It doesn't change when we win big, it doesn't change when we lose.

"Obviously you have the day after the game, it's not nice. But we've started the season so well in the league, we're unbeaten, we're doing everything right domestically.

"So it's sort of easy to just park what happened and move on to this game because obviously I want to keep being part of a defence that keeps clean sheets and keeps winning. Let's see how long we can go on this run for."

Liam Scales, 26, is confident Celtic can rouse themselves following their 7-1 Champions League loss to Borussia Dortmund when they take on Scottish Premiership opponents Ross County on Sunday. (Record), external

Scales backs Celtic manager's Brendan Rodgers' way of playing and dismisses moving to a more pragmatic approach. (Herald - subscription), external

Former Scotland midfielder Graeme Souness believes the heavy midweek European defeats for Celtic and Rangers indicates where the money is in football. (Record), external

Celtic have the 23rd most valuable squad in the UK with a market value of £104.43m, with Rangers ranking 28th at £67.02m. (Transfermarkt), external

Read Saturday's Scottish gossip

In: Arne Engels, midfielder (Augsburg); Kasper Schmeichel, goalkeeper (Anderlecht); Luke McCowan, midfielder (Dundee, undisclosed); Viljami Sinisalo, goalkeeper (Aston Villa, undisclosed); Paulo Bernardo, midfielder (Benfica, loan to permanent, undisclosed); Adam Idah, forward (Norwich City, loan to permanent, undisclosed); Auston Trusty, defender (Sheffield United, undisclosed).

Loan in: Alex Valle, defender (Barcelona).

Out: Matt O'Riley, midfielder (Brighton & Hove Albion); Hyeon-gyu Oh, forward (Genk, undisclosed); Sead Haksabanovic, forward (Malmo, undisclosed); Joe Hart, goalkeeper (retired); Benjamin Siegrist, goalkeeper (Rapid Bucharest); Mikey Johnston, forward (West Bromwich Albion, undisclosed); Daniel Kelly, midfielder (Millwall, undisclosed); Rocco Vata, forward (Watford, undisclosed); Bosun Lawal, defender (Stoke City, undisclosed); Tomoki Iwata, midfielder (Birmingham City); Liam Shaw, midfielder (Fleetwood Town); Ben Quinn, forward (Mansfield Town); Magnus Mackenzie, defender (Queen's Park); Benny-Jackson Luyeye, midfielder.

Loan out: Gustaf Lagerbielke, defender (Twente); Kwon Hyeok-kyu, midfielder (Hibernian); Marco Tilio, forward (Melbourne City, loan extension); Ben Summers, midfielder (Admira Wacker); Matthew Anderson, defender (Admira Wacker); Dane Murray, defender (Queen's Park); Tobi Oluwayemi, goalkeeper (Dunfermline Athletic).

Read the Scottish Premiership ins & outs in full here.

Image source, SNS

Celtic showed "courage" and "passion" during the second half of their chastening 7-1 Champions League defeat against Borussia Dortmund, according to manager Brendan Rodgers.

Daizen Maeda's goal made the score 1-1 after just nine minutes, but Celtic found themselves 5-1 down at half-time as the German side picked Rodgers' side off almost at will.

Rodgers felt both Celtic's pressing and passing were below par, but insists there were positives to take from the second-half display

"I felt our pressing - we probably went a little bit on our own and the early goal spooked us a bit," Rodgers said.

"The mentality of the team and the lack of experience in the team mean sometimes you can rush and come out of position and top players will find the space. With the ball we were too rushed.

"The two quickfire goals before half-time puts you at 5-1 and psychologically it’s a very difficult place to be in against such a level of opponent.

"Second half they played with courage, played with passion, they kept fighting, showed the spirit and their resilience."

Rodgers promised to "lead" Celtic through the difficulty that follows such a defeat, and preached "calm" and "poise" if they are to improve.

"You can dwell on it and become bitter about it, but that's not something I like to do," he said. "This is when you lead.

“With all the players, it's a reassurance. We don't hide behind it and pretend it never happened. We speak about it and talk through it.

"The job is to stay calm, keep your poise and talk the guys through how you can trampoline beyond your start point. It's learning and it's growth.

"It's horrible at the time, but this group has real resilience. That's the mark of this team. We showed that last season, and we'll show it again this season."

Image source, SNS

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has been talking to the media before his side's Scottish Premiership game away to Ross County on Sunday.

Here are the best bits from his press conference:

• On Tuesday's heavy 7-1 defeat away to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, Rodgers says there was "disappointment" and it was "emotionally challenging". However, he believes "setbacks like that are a great opportunity to grow and bounce back to a higher level".

• The Celtic boss also praised the "courage and passion" his side showed in the second half after conceding five before half-time.

• He says in the Champions League you have to sometimes expect defeat, and if you don't, you are a dreamer. "If you dream in management, you wont be in it long," he added.

• Rodgers dismissed the idea that Celtic could have been more defensive against last season's beaten finalists. He says he is not "bothered" by criticism and has never listened to external opinions.

• He is determined to move on from the Dortmund game with a win in Dingwall and wants to see a "high performance level" from his players.

• Defenders Cameron Carter-Vickers and Greg Taylor (calf) will both miss Sunday's game, while Alistair Johnston has trained after suffering from a stiff back.

• Rodgers added: "We're hoping Cam will be ready after the international break and Greg will probably not be too far after that."

Image source, SNS

Brendan Rodgers has been named the Scottish Premiership's manager of the month for September after Celtic continued the perfect start to their title defence.

Winning six games out of six in the new league season, they are yet to concede a goal and the trend carried on in September with three victories out of three to keep Celtic above Aberdeen on goal difference.

There was the memorable 3-0 Old Firm triumph at the start of the month, a 2-0 win over Hearts at Celtic Park, and a 6-0 demolition of St Johnstone in Perth.

Rodgers said: “I am delighted to accept this award on behalf of the team and my backroom staff.

“We have enjoyed a great start to the season with the team showing great balance and delivering excellent performances and results."

We asked for your views on Celtic's 7-1 Champions League defeat away to Borussia Dortmund.

Here's what some of you said:

Paul: How could Celtic capitulate so easily to their superior German opponents? It's the same familiar story every season. They cannot compete away from home, it's definitely psychological, the fear factor is there for all to see and it won't change any time soon. The manager has to accept full responsibility for this resulting annihilation in Dortmund.

Murray: I don't understand the unwillingness to alter tactics based on who you are playing. This is the third time a Brendan Rodgers team have conceded seven in Europe yet he keeps setting the players up to fail. Rodgers at Leicester got a win against Manchester City when he adapted and played a counter attacking game - so it can be done plus would make our play less predictable.

Scott: The approach needs to be much more flexible in Europe, you can't just play in that manner in every game. Looking at the bench Celtic look to have very little defensive minfield cover. You need to have this type of player to complement the attacking attributes of the squad in Europe. Clearly as a club they are not learning from past.

Tom: It was really difficult to find any player playing with the pride, tenacity and skill we supporters expect of them, maybe other than Daizen Maeda who stuck to his task and even managed to score at least the one! Even our captain looked hopelessly out of his depth again, there was no calm leading, skill or control, just frantic fear by all.

Ian: Dortmund are a quality side, last year's finalists, playing at home. We’ve seen this movie before several times away in the Champions League. The absence of Cameron Carter-Vickers and the odd decision to bench Reo Hatate meant we were without two key players for the worst part of this hammering. How we set up against teams of this quality doesn't seem to matter.

Shaun: We are never going to be good enough to challenge in the Champions League against teams like Dortmund because to compete you need the same class of players and we don't have that, it's as simple as that. Liam Scales and Auston Trusty are not good enough in the SPL, never mind the Champions League.

Eddie: Go toe-to-toe with a heavyweight when you are featherweight and the result is a no contest, Celtic must learn to park the bus, break the game down and frustrate the opposition. The defeat was as the Celtic captain stated, a sore one to take, the manager must be held to account for another European hammering with naive tactics.

Former Hearts, Dundee United and St Johnstone defender Ryan McGowan says non-Old Firm fans will have enjoyed Celtic and Rangers being given a "taste of their own medicine" by "taking a pasting" in Europe against teams with a bigger budget.

Listen and subscribe to the Scottish Football Podcast on BBC Sounds

Image source, SNS

• Ross County have lost each of their last 11 meetings with Celtic in all competitions since a 1-0 win in February 2021.

• Celtic have lost just one of their last 17 away games against Ross County in all competitions (W14 D2), winning their last six in a row.

• Ross County have only secured one win in their last 10 league games (D6 L3), a 2-0 victory over Dundee in September.

• Celtic have won all six of their league games this season without conceding; the Hoops have never won their opening seven league matches of a campaign while also keeping a clean sheet each time before.

• Callum McGregor has scored four goals in Celtic's last five league games, as many as his previous 48 Scottish Premiership appearances beforehand combined. McGregor last netted more than four goals in a single campaign in the division in 2019-20 (9).

Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel says "after midnight we move on" as he seeks to put Tuesday's heavy Champions League loss to Borussia Dortmund behind him. (Sun), external

Arne Engels, 21, says his summer move from Augsburg to Celtic is "everything I hoped for". (Record), external

Ayr United manager Scott Brown seeks advice from his former Celtic managers Neil Lennon, Brendan Rodgers and Gordon Strachan and the late former Scotland manager Walter Smith also had an impression on the 39-year-old. (Sun), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter in Dortmund

Image source, Getty Images

Callum McGregor says Celtic must manage games against Europe’s top sides better after a “sobering night” which saw them destroyed 7-1 by Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.

The Bundesliga side crushed the Scottish champions, with Karim Adeyemi’s hat-trick the highlight of a 7-1 trouncing.

Celtic found themselves 5-1 down before half-time and McGregor says his team have to learn to check the momentum of the opposition when things are going against them.

“We came and we wanted to be aggressive in the game,” the captain said.

“We've been humbled a little bit and sometimes you have to take your medicine.

“We need to bring a better level of game than what we did tonight, and try and learn from that a little bit when the game starts to get away from you. Can you shut up shop a little bit and steady the flow of the game for five minutes?

“I think all in all it’s a sort of sobering night for everyone. Never nice or acceptable to lose a game of football 7-1, but we are where we are and we are probably where we expected to be after two games, so we don't have to go nuclear on it.

“It's a bad result, but we started the season really well and we just need to stay together.”