Celtic

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers insists his players are "hungry to respond" after Saturday's narrow defeat to Hibs at Easter Road.

The league leaders had a late equaliser ruled out in Leith, condemning Rodgers' men to only their second Premiership defeat of the season.

The Northern Irishman is hoping for a response on Tuesday night when Aberdeen travel to Parkhead, having come from behind last time in Glasgow to snatch a point.

"It's the professionalism and the focus which is very important," the manager said.

"We obviously need to bounce back from the weekend but the weekend was another opportunity for us to show that when you're not quite on it then teams can hurt you.

"It's also a great measure of how focused and professional the team have been, that we've had very few slip ups over the course of the season. But we did at the weekend.

"We're hungry to respond now and it's at this time of the season where you've really got to narrow in your focus into your performance, into your recovery, into your preparation and just focus on the next game."

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has been speaking to the media as his side prepare to host Aberdeen on Tuesday night.

Here are the main points:

• Feels Celtic should have taken something from the game against Hibs but insists they "have to move on" and focus on the next game.

• On the disallowed equaliser, says "we don't make statements" but the club are going through the relevant procedures although they haven't heard anything back yet.

• Says he's "disappointed" for Philippe Clement losing his job and insists he's "a very good manager" but also acknowledges the "relentless pressure" on managers in Glasgow to constantly win.

• On team news, Rodgers says it's the same from the weekend with James Forrest and Paulo Bernardo still "a bit away" from returning.

• Rodgers "expects" and "has prepared for" a really tough game against Aberdeen on Tuesday night.

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Brendan Rodgers insisted there were "no excuses" for his side's performance against Hibs, despite the midweek Champions League exertions.

Celtic pushed Bayern Munich all the way on Tuesday, almost forcing extra-time before a 94th-minute equaliser ultimately knocked them out of Europe.

However, they fell to Hibs at Easter Road thanks to Josh Campbell's first-half double and were unable to come back from two goals down.

"Listen, it's football, it's sport," Rodgers said. "We were brilliant during the week, we don't want to have any excuse for fatigue, tiredness.

"You're at a big club, you've got to get used to being tired and playing through that. We just weren't quite on it."

"We'll analyse the game but there's no real time to overthink it. It's a disappointing result for us, no doubt, but we'll get back on the horse again, get our recovery started and get ready for Aberdeen on Tuesday night, which is an important game for us."

Watch highlights as Hibs win 2-1 against Celtic in the Scottish Premiership.

Watch the Sportscene panel discuss Celtic's disallowed goal.

We asked for your views on Celtic's 2-1 defeat against Hibs.

Here's what some of you said:

Malcolm: Celtic seem to carry a European hangover, but their defending, namely Alistair Johnston, was all about ball-watching and not defending the area or marker. It was a marvellous performance in Germany, but absolutely unacceptable defending back home. Complacency or hangover, we can't take anything for granted.

Brenda: Brendan Rodgers' tactics and 4-3-3 formation are outdated and predictable. Adam Idah poses no goalscoring threat, so opponents can attack at will, as Hibs and Bayern Munich proved.

Only when Daizen Maeda went to centre-forward did Celtic look like scoring. Nicolas Kuhn is too slow for a winger, and too greedy, cutting in too often to try and score. Time to retire, Rodgers.

Jim: It was always going to be a tough game after the Bayern match, as it takes two to three days to get stamina levels back. We were poor in the first half, but overall not too bothered as we have a huge gap at the top and ball was out for the disallowed goal. Idah needs to give more if he wants to be main man.

Tom: A bit off the pace in the first half but deserved at least a point, Hibernian defended well in the second half. VAR decision was guess work, the assistant did not flag and the on field decision should have stood. I thought Jota was outstanding when he came on.

Paul: We were very poor in the first half. Second half we were better, but we had a mountain to climb. Hats off to Hibs, they played well and are on a good run of form. In all honesty, I didn't think the ball was in for our disallowed goal. I think the right call was made. We go again on Tuesday.

Sam: We have a huge squad, we should of had wholesale rotation. This is on Rodgers. Credit to Hibs for their solid performance.

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• Hibernian are undefeated in their last 11 games in the Premiership, their last longer unbeaten streak was from 31 January 2018 to 5 May 2018, a run of 12 games.

• Hibernian have avoided defeat in their last seven matches when scoring first in the Premiership, since a 1-4 loss to Dundee on 23 November 2024.

• Hibernian have scored 10 goals in the last 15 minutes of the first half, only Celtic (16) have scored more in the Premiership this season.

• Hibernian are unbeaten in their last 22 Premiership matches when leading at half-time (W16, D6) dating back to 18 March 2023 against Celtic (L1-3).

• Nectar Triantis has assisted four goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), no Hibernian player has more.

• Daizen Maeda scored his ninth goal in the Premiership this season, a new career high in a single edition of the tournament.

• Celtic have scored in 25 of their 27 games, more often than any other team in the Premiership this season.

Celtic fans, what did you make of your side's Premiership loss against Hibs at Easter Road?

Did you feel Daizen Maeda's disallowed goal should have stood late on?

Have your say on the game., external

George O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland

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Brendan Rodgers and his players will know they didn't reach their best levels at Easter Road, but they felt they should have taken a point from their trip to Leith.

Daizen Maeda poked home from close range after Marvin Ekpiteta and Jordan Smith failed to deal with Johnston's low ball in from the right.

The goal was given before VAR intervened to say the ball had gone out of play before Alistair Johnston got to it.

The Scottish FA says VAR checked and the 18-yard line camera showed the ball had indeed crossed the byeline, but it did not stop Rodgers protesting to referee Steven McLean after full time.

Celtic had forced their way back into the contest through Maeda's trademark persistence, beating Smith to Reo Hatate's scuffed shot when all others appeared to have given up on the chance.

Regardless, they are still in total control of the Premiership title race, and will look to return to winning ways against Aberdeen on Tuesday.

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers tells BBC Scotland: "I felt we deserved something from the game.

"We didn't start the game well, clearly. They get the goal early - that gets the team and crowd up. We were a little bit rushed in the first half, just tried to force it and then concede a disappointing goal right on half-time.

"The players were excellent second half, forced the game, put a lot of pressure on and get the goal.

"Then there's the talking point. I was very disappointed we didn't get that especially when the linesman didn't think it was out. He probably has the best view in the whole stadium.

"I don't know how you can tell the ball is definitely out from an image from the 18-yard line. We need to see evidence the ball was out. If you don't have that, you're having a guess.

"Congratulations to Hibs, they defended the box well and our decision-making wasn't quite there. We got punished for our first-half performance."

Crystal Palace, Everton and Leeds United are among the clubs who have set their sights on Celtic winger Nicolas Kuhn. (TBR Football), external

Celtic winger Nicolas Kuhn is on a three-man summer shortlist for Eintracht Frankfurt, along with Freiburg's Ritsu Doan and Strasbourg's Dilane Bakwa. (Frankfurter Neue Presse, external, in German)

Jeffrey Schlupp is not ruling out extending his stay at Celtic beyond his loan arrangement from Crystal Palace, with the Dutchman a free agent at the end of the season. (Daily Record), external

Celtic need "bold moves" to support manager Brendan Rodgers to make sure this season's Champions League progress is not wasted, says the club's former striker Chris Sutton. (Daily Record), external

Read the rest of Saturday's Scottish gossip.

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Hibernian have captain Joe Newell and defender Marvin Ekpiteta available for the first time this year but Alasana Manneh is suspended, on-loan Kwon Hyeok-kyu cannot play against his parent club and Dylan Levitt is a doubt after missing the draw at St Mirren, Elie Youan (foot) is still out.

Celtic have no fresh injuries. James Forrest is back in training after a foot injury but not ready to play while Paulo Bernardo (ankle) remains out.

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Brendan Rodgers says it wasn't difficult to pick his players up after their late Champions League heartbreak against Bayern Munich, with a post-match beer helping the players in the immediate aftermath of the aggregate defeat.

Alphonso Davies' 95th-minute strike denied Celtic the opportunity to take the German giants to extra-time in their play-off tie.

However, the Celtic boss says the way his players responded to the 1-1 draw in Germany was evidence of how far they have come in the competition.

"Not really," he said when asked if it was a challenge to find the right way to pick the players up following the disappointment.

"So it just showed you the mentality and the resilience and the grit that this team have."

Celtic stayed the evening in Germany, and Rodgers says the opportunity to "reflect and relax" was important in the wake of such an intense match.

"They overcame that, recovered from the setback and then pushed on and we went back to the hotel, we had a beer and then got back to training the next day," the Northern Irishman said.

"Don't worry, it wasn't a typical Scottish night. It was a nice relaxed beer and wine and then we stayed overnight, trained the next day and got ready for Hibs.

"It's very important that you can just reflect a little bit and relax and think about the moments within the game and the performance but very quickly you have to move on."

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has been speaking to the media before the Scottish Premiership match against Hibs this weekend.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• He says their Champions League campaign was "full of improvement" and thinks the standards are now set for "the next steps going forward," with tomorrow's game the first step on that journey.

• Their performance was great for Celtic and "great for Scotland as well" in terms of showing they can be competitive at that level.

• He says the club have reflected on their performance in the Allianz Arena but now they "draw a line under that", look to push on and finish "what can be an absolutely brilliant campaign".

• He has "not really had any conversation around" extending his current deal, with 18 months left on his contract, adding what's right for the club is more important than the individual.

• Post-Bayern Munich the players regrouped at the hotel, had a drink together, and got back to training the next day to prepare for Hibs. Rodgers says it's important to have moments where you can reflect.

• After a tough 95-minute game midweek, he says: "The players are in a great place physically," and regardless of the eleven starters his side will look "to impose our style on the game".

• Rodgers praised the "excellent" Arne Engels - "I think he's been improving every week he's been here".

• On Hibs, he says he knows they will be "high in confidence" after they "picked up over the last few months". He is "delighted" for David Gray and pleased he was given time to turn things around at Easter Road.

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Former Celtic goalkeeper and 1970 European Cup finalist, Evan Williams, has died at the age of 81.

The shot-stopper won four league titles and two Scottish Cups during his five-year spell at the club, and started in goal in Celtic's European Cup final defeat by Feyenoord.

He made 148 appearances for Celtic after signing from Wolves in 1969, and played for Clyde and Stranraer after leaving the club in 1974.

In a statement, Celtic said: "In his later years and after his retirement from football, Evan was a regular at Celtic Park on matchdays and he will be greatly missed by everyone around the club.

"The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Celtic are with Evan's friends and family at this sad time."

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

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Two sides go head to head at Easter Road who currently are making their rivals green with envy.

Celtic, of course, earned the plaudits for going toe-to-toe with Bayern until an unfortunate deflection handed the Bundesliga leaders a Champions League aggregate win deep into stoppage time in Munich on Tuesday.

Hibs, meanwhile, are on a 12-game unbeaten run and have not conceded a goal in their latest three outings.

However, Celtic were the last team to beat David Gray's side - 3-0 in Glasgow in December - their fifth victory in a row over the Leith outfit since a goalless draw at Easter Road in October 2023.

That was their third victory over Hibs this season with an aggregate score of 8-1.

Indeed, Hibs have beaten Celtic just once in their latest 24 meetings, their most recent win coming in May 2023 - a 4-2 success at Easter Road under Lee Johnson.

In addition to their fine Champions League run, Brendan Rodgers' side have won three in a row in the Premiership with an aggregate of 12-1 to maintain their 13-point lead at the top of the table.

Hibs' improved form, though, has lifted them into fifth, now just three points behind Dundee United - and they will have renewed belief that they can follow in the footsteps of Aston Villa and Bayern, the only two sides to have beaten Celtic in 13 outings.

Read the rest of the weekend's Premiership picks.

Celtic centre-half Gustaf Lagerbielke has hinted he wants to turn his loan move to Twente Enschede into a permanent one after the 24-year-old revealed he barely has any contact with his parent club. (Scottish Sun), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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• Hibernian have won just one of their last 24 meetings with Celtic across all competitions (D7 L16), a 4-2 league win in May 2023 under Lee Johnson.

• Celtic have won both of their last two league visits to Hibernian, this after only winning two of their previous 12 away league games against Hibs beforehand (D7 L3).

• Hibernian are unbeaten in 10 league games (W6 D4), the longest ongoing run in this season's Scottish Premiership – although their last defeat was to Celtic in December (0-3). Hibs last went longer without losing in the competition in May 2018 under Neil Lennon (12 games).

• Celtic have won six of their last seven league games (D1), including each of their last three in a row by an aggregate score of 12-1, scoring at least three goals each time. They last won more Scottish Premiership matches in a row while scoring 3+ goals in each in March 2023 under Ange Postecoglou (run of 6).

• After his goal against Dundee United last time out, Celtic's Callum McGregor now has 49 goals and 49 assists in the Scottish Premiership. Since the competition's rebrand in 2013, only two players – James Tavernier (83 goals, 79 assists) and James Forrest (58 goals, 55 assists) – have reached both 50+ goals and 50+ assists in the division.

Newcastle United scouts have been keeping an eye on the progress of Celtic winger Nicolas Kuhn ahead of a possible summer bid, but there are alternative options ahead of the 25-year-old on their list of targets. (Football Insider), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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