BRENDAN RODGERS was delighted his players rose to the challenge to overcome Hearts 2-0 at Parkhead yesterday after almost a fortnight away from club football.
New Bhoys Arne Engels and Luke McCowan, who both arrived on deadline day, were the second-half marksmen with their first goals for the champions.
It was a vital victory that preserved the Hoops’ perfect start to the week, which will see them compete in three different tournaments.
With Edinburgh now out of the way, Rodgers and his squad can focus on their Champions League opener against Slovan Bratislava under the lights in Glasgow’s east end on Wednesday night.
After that, Celtic will turn their attention to the Premier Sports League Cup quarter-final, with Falkirk visiting next week.
Rodgers commented: “After an international break, you always hope the players return in form. I thought there were several phases in the game where we played really well.
“Hearts made it tough for us; they worked hard and had good physicality, but if we had scored earlier – we had a few chances – it would’ve opened the game up.
“Although we didn’t manage that right away, I still felt we looked sharp and creative, and Big Craig [Gordon] made a couple of fine saves.
“In matches like these, you have to deliver, and the players certainly did.
“We kept pushing, got the penalty, then added a second, although the third was disallowed for offside. Overall, it was very satisfying.”
The Irishman also lauded first-time scorers Engels and McCowan.
Talking about the penalty that broke the deadlock just after halftime, he told Celtic TV: “It was a calm finish, showing great composure. I’m really happy for Arne – he was outstanding today, great movement, strong physically, and finished it with confidence.”
Reflecting on McCowan’s late strike that secured the win, Rodgers added: “It was a fantastic moment for Luke, a lifelong Celtic fan, to score and share that connection with the crowd.
“Everyone saw the joy he felt in that moment, scoring as a Celtic player. The whole stadium could feel it when he found the back of the net – it was a special moment and a well-taken goal against a top keeper in Big Craig.”
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