Falkirk is the best team Celtic has faced this season, according to Brendan Rodgers, and supporters believe he meant it with a wink at Rangers.
The Championship title-chasers were ultimately defeated 5-2 by the Premiership champions, but the game’s three-goal margin wasn’t a fair reflection of the first half’s intense pressure on the Hoops. Rodgers‘ flawless team hadn’t even been behind in a game yet this season, but twice they went a goal down to John McGlynn‘s Bairns who seemed to have all the answers in the first 45.
Rodgers had to go to his bench to rescue it and Nicolas Kuhn’s introduction was the catalyst for a comeback, he and Adam Idah scoring braces to see Celtic safely through. But the Irishman was full of praise for McGlynn’s team after the game, even entering the Falkirk dressing room to praise their players.
In an interview with Premier Sports, he referred to Falkirk as the “best” team they had faced thus far this season. This is high regard, given that they have already participated in the Champions League and defeated Rangers at Parkhead. And it’s the latter aspect that fans were drawn to.
Sharing a clip of Rodgers’ comment, one fan captioned it with fishing emojis, suggesting it was a cheeky windup aimed at their rivals across the city by suggesting they were inferior to the Championship side. One wrote in reply ‘the funniest part is it’s true’ while another said: ‘I love that man. Such a s*** stirrer. Beautiful.’
Waxing lyrical about Falkirk, Rodgers had said: “Got to give immense credit to Falkirk. I’ve really enjoyed watching and analysing them because in terms of a football idea, the game, what John’s doing…they’re probably the best team that we’ve played this season in terms of how they want to work the game, how they want to work the ball. So they can be really proud of how they done.
“They pressed it really well, they were aggressive. They came with the 4-3-3 to try and disrupt and in the end they got a very good first goal.It’s excellent. It would be great if it occurred more often when my starters were in the game. Their approach to the game is excellent, in my opinion. John is going to be rewarded for bringing that to Raith and Falkirk. But nothing is simple. It’s possible that not every squad has their level of mobility, quality technicians on the team, and fast play in some areas. Their style of playing is distinct.”
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