Rodgers plays down McGregor injury as Celtic reap reward of summer spending
Brendan Rodgers claims Celtic are now reaping the reward for showing patience and ambition in the summer transfer window.
The Parkhead boss opted to rest Nicolas Kuhn, Arne Engels and Adam Idah at Motherwell, with Cameron Carter-Vickers making his return from the bench.
Despite losing skipper Callum McGregor pre-match to an abductor injury — an issue Rodgers doesn’t believe is too serious — his side still returned to the top of the Premiership with a 3-0 victory at Fir Park.
Rodgers insisted that an unusually comfortable day for him in Lanarkshire was down to the backing he enjoyed in the summer when he landed players like Auston Trusty, Engels, Alex Valle, Luke McCowan and Paulo Bernardo.
He said: ‘I’ve told the players they all have a role to play. Don’t ever think it’s just about the XI because, with how we work and with the number of games, and the energy we have to put in, they all know they have a big contribution to make.
‘We were able to rest Arne, who’s come in as a young player and played so many games. The distance he covered in midweek (against Atalanta) was huge. I’m obviously very grateful to the club for getting the players in that allows us to do that.’
Rodgers thanked the Celtic board for assembling a squad that allowed him to rest players
Injured Celtic captain Callum McGregor watched the Motherwell game from the sidelines
Alistair Johnston deputised as Celtic skipper in the 3-0 victory against Motherwell at Fir Park
Rodgers was thrilled with the way his side delivered another strong performance on the back of a hugely taxing Champions League night.
‘I’m absolutely delighted to come here on the back of a game where there was a big exertion, a big physicality.
‘Motherwell away has always been a tough game, so to finish 3-0 — and it could have been more convincing by the end, if we had been a bit more clinical — the players have done amazing.’
McGregor’s absence, which only came to light after training on Saturday, makes him a doubt for Wednesday’s match against Dundee but should see him return for Saturday’s League Cup semi-final against Aberdeen.
‘It shouldn’t be too serious,’ said Rodgers. ‘I got the call late last night and, with the number of games he’s played over the years, it was really sensible and mature as well. Because maybe before he might not have mentioned it. He had a wee feeling after the training session yesterday. Then I got to find out, and we said let’s see how he is in the morning.
‘Rather than take any risk, we didn’t want to put him on to maybe stretch it and then be out for a number of weeks. So, hopefully he’ll be fine over these next few days and, if not Wednesday, hopefully he should be fine for next weekend.’
McGregor’s absence allowed McCowan to make his first start for the club. His first-half strike — his second for the club — continued a dream start for the boyhood supporter.
‘I’m so happy for him,’ said Rodgers. ‘He performs with great energy and passion. Callum obviously wasn’t going to play, so the idea was to bring him in because he’s a goal threat.’
Rodgers believes Idah should recover okay after being subjected to a nasty late challenge which saw Liam Gordon red carded after VAR’s intervention.
‘To be fair to the player, I don’t think he’s tried to do him,’ said Rodgers. ‘The problem is when you leave the ground and he’s just rocked his ankle a bit.’
