Opinion: Brendan Rodgers digging his heels in over Liam Scales

We got there in the end on Saturday and that’s all that matters in the grand scheme of things. We all know and understand that when it comes to these sorts of matches. However, we didn’t half make a mountain out of a molehill at times. That particular issue was in no way helped by the defence and serious questions will be asked of it before now and the end of the season.

I know it’s never fair to single just one individual out for errors or mistakes, as the Celtic defence collectively was a mess. But I think Rodgers is now deliberately digging his heels in with Liam Scales and it’s got to stop. Maik Nawrocki came into the side last weekend and kept a clean sheet. There’s no reason why he shouldn’t have been starting at Hampden Park alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers.

Scales has performed admirably this year, but it’s now obvious that he has flatlined and this plateau is seriously costing us at times. Yes, he’s a battler and was wonderful at Ibrox way back in September and yes, he had that Man of the Match performance in the UEFA Champions League group stages. But now is the time to hold the hands up and admit that his obvious deficiencies are becoming too costly and risky at a time when we can least afford them.

Twice he was caught under the ball against his former team at the weekend and I’m sorry, if his battling defensive qualities are found wanting, his on the ball attributes aren’t going to balance them out or pull him or us out of a hole when we need it most. If Brendan can’t see what’s unfolding before his very eyes now, he’s just digging his heels in and being deliberately stubborn when it comes to the assessment of Scales in recent times.

Yes he is unhappy with recruitment, but this is heading towards self-sabotage territory and is just a step too far now.

End it, Brendan. Before it ends us…pick the best possible eleven for every game that remains.

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