Brendan Rodgers WILL FIX Celtic’s problems, as Scott Brown reveals the old boss’s magic.

The pressure is mounting on the Hoops following their defeat at Kilmarnock on Sunday, but Brown insists Rodgers’ experience will be crucial.

The storm has passed, and it is now time to relax. Scott Brown has seen Brendan Rodgers at work in the Celtic dressing room, and he knows exactly how he will pick up the pieces after a disastrous Sunday afternoon in the Ayrshire rain.

For the second week in a row, admissions of being bullied and performing below expectations were hurled out of the away dressing room following the 2-1 defeat to Kilmarnock, which came seven days after a late rally salvaged a 3-1 win at St Johnstone. Criticism has been levelled at Celtic’s performances, and the club’s lead at the top of the table has been reduced to five points.

Brown, on the other hand, is confident Rodgers will repair the damage. Whereas the manager delivered a stinging public rebuke to his squad a week ago in Perth, he took a step back at Kilmarnock. Brown has witnessed the manager taking a deep breath and looking at the big picture before. He now anticipates significant movement in and out of Parkhead in January.

When asked if his former boss would fix it, Brown was unequivocal [Daily Record]. “Yeah, he will,” he said. January is coming around and there are a lot of players who will move out and move in. It is part and parcel of football. I am sure he has got his eye on a few.

“Right now he will be calm and collected. Sometimes you rage and sometimes you have that understanding. He will step back, he will reflect on the game and they will go again. They have got a big European game on Wednesday and then Hearts at home on Saturday. He will be looking to bounce back.

“That is the good thing about football – you have got a game three days later. Hopefully they can change everyone’s mindset as well because everyone remembers your last game. If it is week to week it is sitting there, it goes on longer and longer, it becomes draining for the players as well. Now their focus is on Wednesday night.

“Derek McInnes spoke well after the game and said Celtic controlled the game and they gave them too much respect. Second half they went after them more and on that pitch you can’t play the same style as you can on most of them.”

Summer signings such as Gustaf Lagerbielke, Maik Nawrocki, Odin Thiago Holm, Marco Tilio, and Yang Hyun-jun have been criticised for their lack of impact, with only the latter getting anything resembling a run in the team. Lagerbielke, the eldest, is 23 years old. Brown, who moved to Celtic Park from Hibs as a 22-year-old, understands the difficulties of making the transition to a massive club at such a young age.

“Especially the way Brendan expects you to play and train daily,” he said. It is hard to go from zero to hero overnight. He knows that and he builds people up. He is very good at that. Tactically, he is exceptional.

“His training methods and his understanding of the game are top and that is why Celtic have brought him back, because they believe he can go on and win trophies, as he did the first time he was here. I

“It’s a new set of lads. The only guys who have been there before are Bainy, Cal and Jamesy. It is a fresh start for him and a new project and I am sure he will cherish it. He loved it here, he really did love his time. His family are up here as well so it is a good place for him.

“He is a huge Celtic fan as well. The club means a lot to him. I know he went down to England. He did fantastic with Leicester as well. For him to have that opportunity, and also Celtic to have that opportunity, for him to come back was a no brainer.”

The idea of Scott Brown being bullied as Celtic captain is as ridiculous and muddled as Hoopy the Huddle Hound bouncing down Edmiston Drive in a Rangers kit singing Simply the Best.

Not the short-sleeved, teeth-baring, snarling midfielder general who amassed an incredible haul of 22 trophies, including 10 titles, in 14 years at Parkhead.

So Rodgers’ admission in Perth and then Matt O’Riley’s in Kilmarnock that this Hoops team was bullied two weeks in a row has to be concerning, right?

“I wouldn’t say they got bullied too much,” Brown said. Cameron Carter-Vickers is a big miss for them because he is the core of that defence.

“He keeps Liam Scales, Nat Phillips intact, he leads by example at the back, his is composed, very good, on the ball and will build attacks. The thing is you can squeeze the line with him because he is quick, strong and believes in himself. It becomes a different game with Nat and Liam.

“He is a huge miss. You are missing Abada, Hatate and Maeda – that is four key players that Celtic are missing. And they are still doing well, still sitting top of the league. They will be two points clear if Rangers win their game in hand coming in to the Glasgow derby.”

“He is a huge miss. You are missing Abada, Hatate and Maeda – that is four key players that Celtic are missing. And they are still doing well, still sitting top of the league. They will be two points clear if Rangers win their game in hand coming in to the Glasgow derby.”

• Scott Brown was promoting Viaplay’s live and exclusive coverage of the Viaplay Cup Final between Rangers and Aberdeen. Viaplay is available to stream from viaplay.com or as an add-on subscription from Sky, Virgin TV, and Amazon Prime.

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