Brendan Rodgers, by hook or by crook, got his response

Had Celtic lost, or even drawn, progression in the Europa League would have been a tall order. Now, at least, it feels possible. Not guaranteed, far from it, but possible. And that alone has likely changed the mood around the club.

Before the match, in Wednesday’s press conference, Brendan Rodgers had looked tired and strained. Under pressure, perhaps. Certainly defensive. Asked again about his now-infamous Honda Civic vs Ferrari analogy, he refused to backtrack. In fact, he doubled down. He claimed the remark was aimed at the lack of pace in the team.

By the time last night came around, however, that subtle message had undergone a full repackage. Now, Rodgers said, the comment was a dig the players needed, one they understood and accepted because of the strong relationship he has with them.

It was quite a transformation in interpretation, quite a spin cycle, but it came out clean. After all, the important thing, as ever in football, is the result. Celtic won. The performance was strong. The changes worked. And smiles returned.

Even when the injuries began to pile up on the night, the team continued to show belief and purpose. That will bring encouragement at Lennoxtown today. The players earned that return to confidence. The manager even took the analogy further after the match, the Civic had now become a Land Rover Sport, he joked, and there would be no Morris Minors tolerated going forward. Funny how a good result and performance can polish even the clumsiest metaphor.

Recently, Rodgers has been scrutinised. The sit-down BBC interview was received coolly. His “I’m a transformational coach” line seemed at odds with his “never been more motivated” insistence in the same breath. When Rodgers confuses, he confuses thoroughly. Some supporters suspected he was working his ticket. Some saw another dig at those upstairs. Others felt he was delivering a rocket to his squad. The truth may well contain pieces of all three.

But last night, by hook or by crook, he got his response.

Celtic beat Sturm Graz 2-1. An organised side. A competitive side. And we didn’t just ride our luck, we created a multitude of chances, scored two, and could easily have scored more. There was, at last, the outline of a solution on the right-hand side with Benjamin Nygren wide, Colby Donovan supporting and Arne Engels playing ever so well inside the pair of them. Rodgers has been searching for that combination for weeks, now he may finally have found it.

If Rodgers has indeed been signalling his availability in recent weeks, it should not surprise anyone. His contract ends in May. He has to think of his future. But for Celtic, what matters is simple, he must get a tune out of the Ferrari, Honda, Land Rover, or whatever vehicle metaphor we are driving this week. Last night, he did.

So, however this has been digested in the press, however it was framed by the manager, and however the supporters interpreted the contradictions, what mattered most was the players’ response. The ends justified the means. The performance has bought time, restored belief, and reopened possibility.

Now, though, it must be the start of something, not another brief reprieve before exiting at the next junction.

We can only hope we’re motoring now. Whatever car we’re driving.

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