Paul Merson pokes fun at Manchester United before sending a wonderful message about the Celtic Champions League

Paul Merson spoke surprisingly about the atmosphere at Celtic Park on Champions League nights, at the same time as digging at Manchester United.

There were a quantity of big video games in the Champions League on Wednesday, no greater so than for Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United with their Group F decider towards AC Milan.

Before the match, Paul Merson stated on Twitter that the ecosystem at St James’  Park is ‘up there’ with the noise produced by Celtic and Liverpool at Anfield.

It got here with its little dig because, after Manchester United were booted out of Europe altogether on Tuesday following their 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich, Paul Merson was once adamant that the surroundings produced at the above grounds is ‘better than the one at Old Trafford’.

Whilst Brendan Rodgers and Celtic enjoyed a much-needed 2-1 win over Feyenoord, with Matt O’Riley getting a lot of plaudits.

It was a defeat for Newcastle United against AC Milan, who just like the Bhoys and Manchester United, will have no Europe post-Christmas.

Celtic Park surroundings on Champions League nights

“On Sky tonight staring at Newcastle v AC Milan,” stated Merson. “The ecosystem at St James’ Park will be better than the one at Old Trafford last night.

“Newcastle is up there with Celtic Park and Anfield on a Champions League night.”

On sky tonight watching Newcastle v AC Milan… the atmosphere at St James’ Park will be better than the one at Old Trafford last night.. Newcastle is up there with Celtic park and Anfield on a Champions league night #UCL ⚫️⚪️⚫️⚪️ I’ve got a feeling for Newcastle tonight 🙏🏼

— Paul Merson (@PaulMerse) December 13, 2023

Proof cash and spending isn’t usually the answer

Given Celtic’s performances in the Champions League this season, one thing that receives thrown at it all, as a feasible solution, is money wanting to be thrown at new players.

Well, with the riches of the English Premier League, each Newcastle United and Manchester United, have verified that isn’t always the answer.

Whilst the Magpies may want to count number themselves unfortunate due to the fact they have been in the crew of loss of life and certain refereeing calls went towards them.

The equal can’t be said for these in the pink 1/2 of Manchester, who after spending heaps and lots of hundreds of thousands (again), have been possibly the worst team, pound for pound, in Europe this term.

‘Exceptional’: Joleon Lescott stunned with £1 million Celtic player in tonight’s victory over Feyenoord

It looked like any other night of so shut but, yet again, so a long way for Celtic in the Champions League tonight.

Once again Brendan Rodgers‘ side’s incapacity to preserve the backdoor shut in the closing stages of a European recreation regarded like it was going to come returned and chunk them on the backside.

1-0 up and searching comfortable, Celtic allowed the Dutch side to get lower back into the recreation as Hyeongyu Oh was bullied off the ball in midfield and Alistair Johnston was dragged out of role which allowed Yankuba Minteh to slot domestic an 82nd-minute equaliser to leave Joe Hart helpless.

Which is a shame due to the fact if every person deserved to be on the winning side, it was once the £1m signing from Tottenham Hotspur. And he was after Gustaf Lagerbielke nodded home the point-blank winner in the 90th minute.

Hart pulled off some fundamental saves to preserve Celtic beforehand last night and he significantly impressed former England international defender, Joleon Lescott.

Joe Hart redeems himself for Celtic vs Feyenoord

The English stopper has come under some extreme criticism over the previous few weeks but he definitely redeemed himself with his performance tonight.

Lescott stated [TNT Sports], “Arguably this would have been one of the pleasant dreams of the competition so a ways but just offside. Probably ought to do better with the offside in phrases of searching throughout the line and looking ahead to the place the centre-backs are.

“He [Luis Giminez] can’t make his run off the fullback due to the fact he’s at the back of him however a steady threat strolling behind and he’s any individual that’s has been cozy in front of goal but Joe Hart’s been exceptional.”

Despite conceding, Hart made three important saves at integral stages of the sport which ought to have seen the result go some other way.

Hart was once extremely good and deserves all the plaudits coming his way for this performance.

“You have to do more” James McFadden responds to Brendan Rodgers’ public comments about Celtic star

James McFadden has weighed in on the situation involving Celtic winger, Mikey Johnston.

Brendan Rodgers took an fascinating step in deciding to publicly critique the player after Celtic’s 4-1 win over Hibernian ultimate week.

Someone like Chris Sutton was ’surprised’ by the Celtic manager’s methods, whilst others suppose it’s in reality a challenge.

As James McFadden pointed out, the truth that Mikey Johnston began the 2-1 defeat towards Kilmarnock on Sunday proves that Brendan Rodgers is actually trying to push the player, as he told Sky Sports Football (10/12/23 at 11:40 am).

The former Scotland global introduced that Mikey Johnston is being requested to do more with and barring the ball due to the fact it’s some distance exclusive than when he is being requested when he comes off the bench.

The 24-year-old has commenced only two games this season and likely hasn’t produced the results he would have preferred from a non-public perspective.

There have been instances this season when he has come off the bench, including in the Champions League and he has seemed impressive.

But as James McFadden pointed out, they are two distinctive worlds.

Brendan Rodgers’ venture to Mikey Johnston

“I’d rather not have any criticism, if I am being flawlessly honest,” stated McFadden.

“What Brendan Rodgers is doing Is telling Mikey Johnston that coming on as a sub is specific to beginning the game.

“When you come on, the sport is open and you have the freedom to do what it takes to get your group back in the recreation or have an impact in the game. When you begin the game, it is greater about concentrating on your positional play. When you are going to press. What the needs are.

“I assume had Rodgers had a go at him, then dropped him it would have been a bigger problem here. What he is saying, you are in the crew now and you have to do more. You have to use the ball better. Make better decisions.”

Celtic v Feyenoord

The difficulty for Johnston now is that he will probable be dropped for Wednesday’s Champions League clash towards Feyenoord.

And that will likely then lead to him being in the equal state of affairs in opposition to Hearts at the weekend.

On one hand, his performances haven’t been properly enough, but he ought to rightfully argue that he wishes greater minutes to surely get his engine going because he is nonetheless probable lacking that sharpness.

Johnston’s problem is that he has had plenty of probabilities earlier than and in the pressure cooker of Celtic, you ain’t given a great deal time.

“We want the fans to have something to be happy about when they return home. “Brendan Rodgers”

“We choose to do the whole lot we can to supply the supporters a performance and a result,” Brendan Rodgers…

Q: Where are Daizen Maeda and Cameron Carter-Vickers in phrases of their health and involvement?

Brendan Rodgers: “They won’t be concerned tomorrow however for the weekend they will hopefully be available. ”

Q: In phrases of your conventional approach, how do you balance this sport with essential home matches?

Brendan Rodgers: “Our attitude to the recreation is precisely the same, it’s to go and win the game by playing our way. I think we confirmed at the weekend that once we trade from that we don’t have the identical features and it’s no longer playing to our strengths. We want to go and play the sport we favor to play, we comprehend we are taking part in a excellent facet but it’s our last recreation at home and we desire to do the whole thing we can to provide the supporters a overall performance and result.”

Q: Does the co-efficient come into your wondering in a game like this?

Brendan Rodgers: “No. It’s based on how you are doing in the present. If we are successful at this level then that tags on but subsequently we are here to do the very great for Celtic and if we can achieve points and wins then of route that will always enhance the standing.”

Q: Does this supply you an probability to take a look at fringe players at this level?

Brendan Rodgers: “Because of the situation we have with accidents and with all the games we’ve had before and after this game, it gives opportunities for players to play and I assume that’s… By the time we reach January a lot of players will have had the threat to play games, and video games via all the degrees and then be assessed from there. Whatever group we put out at Celtic it’s to win.

“There’s no gifts. No free games. You need to win and even though, disappointingly there’s nothing to play for in terms of Europe after Christmas we are still playing for satisfaction right here so we will have a crew tomorrow looking to combat for the result.”

Q: What’s the response been like to the end result in opposition to Killie?

Brendan Rodgers: “It’s in most cases been restoration to be fair. We acquired returned in and analysed the game. The beauty and super cost of the recreation at the weekend is that we recognize the place the issues were. A bit like the St Johnstone game, the intensity wasn’t right. We fixed that however sadly for us, we didn’t play with the poise we wished to play with in the second half in our league game. But at least we see that and we can take the getting to know into the recreation tomorrow.”

Q: Can what you do tomorrow give you belief for subsequent season?

Brendan Rodgers: “It’s nonetheless such a lengthy way to go. Come this time next yr the squad might appear a lot one of a kind again. You can only deal with the present and for us it’s about going and performing and playing to the stage we recognize we can consistently. We’ve finished that in spells in this competition the place we have played some certainly high-level football but you have to do that consistently. If you can do it constantly with that quality it will constantly give you a chance of breaking through.”

Q: If you win, can it spur you on domestically?

Brendan Rodgers: “Every win usually improves confidence, but either way, whatever the result we will go into the sport against Hearts honestly centered on getting a result. We will make that breakthrough at some factor in the close to future. It would be a magnificent area to begin to do that the next day but anything the end result we will go into the weekend’s game honestly centered on getting returned to velocity in the league.”

Q: What do you expect from Feyenoord?

Brendan Rodgers: “Jiminez may play. He didn’t in the first recreation and he’s a very gifted striker and has executed simply properly for them. They are a sturdy side. We noticed their quality and played truly nicely in the first half. You can see the physicality in the team and they have a honestly high level of approach and a desirable understanding. Arnie Slot has performed well there and is a genuinely true instruct so it’s a large project however we enjoy that. Any sport in the Champions League is a big game and we appreciate that. It’s our final sport in the competition and we desire to give the followers some thing to go domestic glad about.”

Q: How is Reo Hatate getting on?

Brendan Rodgers: “We assume at this moment in time his recuperation will be into January but he’s doing very well. We verify that as every day goes by.”

Q: You seem at pinnacle groups over the Champions League level, even in your first spell when you had Scott Brown as a bodily presence in midfield who should do the soiled work and permit gamers to push on forward. Is that a player you would like to bring to the membership in the January window or shifting forward to the summer time window?

Brendan Rodgers: “I suppose it’s usually about stability in midfield. For me, the importance of prevailing the ball is a collective, it’s not simply one player. Scott was once extremely good in my time here. We performed with a physical player at the weekend and lost, so it’s all about the balance in your team. I said when I first got here in that with a bit of luck the identity of this group will have power, strength, creativity and velocity over the path of my time here. We’re working closer to that. Technical capability is very important but being aggressive is equally vital in all factors of the pitch.”

Q: The final win in a Champions League sport was once when you were here as manager. How outstanding an success would it be for you once more to information Celtic to every other Champions League win the following day night?

Brendan Rodgers: “It would be great, but extra so for the supporters that have been ready a lengthy time. The Anderlecht recreation was a brilliant win for us and we played truely well in the game. The crew has gone close on activities but it would be pleasant to make that result. It’s more for all and sundry than a non-public achievement. This is a sincerely challenging opposition for a group like ourselves but we always dream and have the ambition to do well. Whilst we’re competing with the shit we’ll continually fight for the result.”

Jessica Elliott – The Celtic Star: Are there any particular things from the relaxation of the team stage games that you’ll be looking to improve on for tomorrow night? Callum McGregor said that you want to be switched on for ninety minutes however is there whatever else that you’ve worked on in coaching that will assist you get a higher result tomorrow?

Brendan Rodgers: “I suppose in terms of these games, I’ve constantly stated they’re games about belief. Callum’s virtually right from a intellectual point of view your concentration is so important. The technical level of players right here capacity they can get via the pitch very quickly, and all of a unexpected they’re in on your back-line. Lots of teams at this level have excellent at the front quit of the pitch so that concentration is important. When you have the ball, it’s all about having that belief and the poise to look after the ball and to attack with speed, however also to be able to play at tempo.

“That’s some thing we continually intention to do here within the team. Most importantly, as quickly as the whistle goes then you go and attack the game, and that is when we are at our best. We’ve shown that right here on a number of games and when we do that, we seem a simply proper side. You comprehend within the game that you have to defend and you’re going to have to be strong, with a little bit of luck alongside the way. If you can do that, then with any luck you can have a terrific night.”

Jessica Elliott – The Celtic Star: The performances in the Champions League have been good, but you perhaps don’t have the points to show for it. What are the positives that you can take from this marketing campaign going into the next one?

Brendan Rodgers: “I look thru each sport and there have been spells where I’ve been honestly happy with things, like the begin in Feyenoord right up to half-time when we lose a poor goal. The Lazio sport here we should have taken something from that game and didn’t. That awareness lapse fee us. The Madrid game at home was a certainly correct overall performance and a in reality thrilling sport in opposition to a surely true side.

“We’ve shown that we can not simply compete but our footballing capacity too. It’s simply about sustaining that, and you can’t drop off in your next games. Madrid away used to be a tough nighttime for us, and when you lose a player at that stage the opposition can punish you, and they did. I’ve viewed a lot in a lot of the video games to be aware of that if we maintain enhancing our experience and seem to enhance the squad then we with any luck can make another step forward.”

Q: Just to contact on recruitment, in the summer season window you signed nine new gamers and at the weekend only two of them began in Palma and Phillips whose mortgage deal finishes soon. In the previous fixture, only Palma started. Looking back, would you say you were comfy with the summer time activity, and are you confident going forward in January that you’ll be in a position to get the first crew geared up gamers that you noted in terms of journey and quality?

Brendan Rodgers: “I don’t need to appear back. The gamers were signed and are in here. They are players that can also not be for now but may be gamers that down the line come to be truely exact gamers for Celtic. when you’re coming into a membership like Celtic, at 20 years of age it can be a real challenge. The adaption of coming to any other us of a can be tough.

“Those guys have signed lengthy contracts, and hopefully, in that time they can show that they can be Celtic players. Looking forward, we want to enhance the squad, and I assume we’ll do that one way with gamers coming again that can show influential for us and hopefully, if there’s the right gamers available we can improve in key areas that we would like to.”

Q: In the European campaign, you have competed properly in the majority of games. Do you have a message for Celtic fans that you experience that you can be the one to take the membership forward and growth in phrases of knockout football?

Brendan Rodgers: “I without a doubt can due to the fact it’s the very cause I got here back. I got here returned here to lead the club domestically to endured success and additionally into Europe where we all want to wreck this barrier and bridge this hole which is a in reality challenging challenge but it’s what I’ve usually performed in my career. I picked the undertaking to come right here and optimistically take us forward.

“That’s going to be us all, the supporters, the board, the gamers and myself all being together. Getting the right players in that can enhance and advance the squad. I have each and every confidence that I can do that over the coming seasons.”