Celtic should have gone for record in clinching title – Brendan Rodgers

Posted Sunday, April 29, 2018 by PA

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers admits his side should have had equalled their record Old Firm win after they clinched their seventh successive Ladbrokes Premiership title in stunning style with a 5-0 thrashing of Rangers at Parkhead.

The Hoops’ 7-1 League Cup final win over the Light Blues at Hampden Park in 1957 is the club’s biggest victory in the derby match and the gap between the two sides was every bit as big at Celtic Park.

Odsonne Edouard, the 20-year-old French striker on loan from Paris St Germain, scored a first-half double with James Forrest adding a third before the break with midfielders Tom Rogic and Callum McGregor notching further goals early in the second-half.

🏆 Congratulations to @CelticFC!
🥇@Ladbrokes Premiership champions for the 7️⃣th time in a row! 🍾🎉🥂 pic.twitter.com/U61jwANURn
— SPFL (@spfl) April 29, 2018

Goalkeeper Jak Alnwick, making his Old Firm debut, made several good saves to keep the champions at bay and leave ragged Rangers relieved they had not encountered further damage.

Rodgers, whose side beat the Govan men 4-0 in the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final two weeks ago, said: “We should have had seven but we will take five.

“We scored five but it was probably going on seven or eight.

“Their keeper made some great saves.

#Magnificen7 Celtic 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆
Celtic Football Club are seven-in-a-row Champions of Scotland! pic.twitter.com/LwWLZ7DnQ5
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) April 29, 2018

“It was great tribute to the work of the players and the scrutiny that they are under. The performance was outstanding, if you think of what the players put into the game.”

Rodgers insists the league title win was better than last year when they went unbeaten in 38 games.

Celtic have lost to Hearts, Kilmarnock and Hibernian this season but the former Swansea City and Liverpool boss added: “This title is definitely better that last year – even though we went unbeaten last year.

He came home to lead the Green & White. ✊ #Magnificen7 pic.twitter.com/mjHyFKTWXU
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) April 29, 2018

“OK, there was expectation of course but to then to have had that season and to come into this season with virtually very little to break, and to go and perform like we have done for quite a number of games under pressure, we have done really well.

“I am really proud of the players. I don’t think I could have asked for any more.

“There won’t be too many atmospheres around the world like today.