Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers hailed Callum McGregor after the Hoops captain began life after Scotland duty with a stunning strike in a 2-0 victory at Easter Road.
The 31-year-old midfielder struck from nearly 30 yards two days after announcing his retirement from international football.
“He was brilliant,” Rodgers said. “That’s what happens when you retire from Scotland!
“Hopefully there are many more goals to come. It doesn’t surprise me. He’s scored so many goals for me, especially in the first spell, then a few this spell. Twenty-five to 30 yards out, it was a wonderful strike. That’s what you need in your team and he possesses quality.”
Steve Clarke was watching from the Easter Road stands and Rodgers produced a mischievous grin when asked if he had sympathy for the Scotland manager following McGregor’s decision.
He added: “He’s played so many games, hasn’t he? I think when I give Cal a few days off on international breaks, he’ll relish it.
“I do feel for Steve because he’s a quality player, of course. But from a Celtic perspective, for longevity, for him, his career, his recovery, there’s so many games now, it’s a 12-month season.
“For him to get these little periods of recovery, to recover and rest, will be important for him. We’ve got no winter break this year either.
“He’s such an intense player for me on and off the pitch. Those little windows where you can give him that breather will do him the word of good.”
Kühn lays it off for McGregor who thunders a left footed strike into the corner of the net from 25 yards out 🔥⚽️
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) August 11, 2024
Celtic took the lead inside three minutes through Nicolas Kuhn and looked like they would go on to record a resounding win after McGregor’s 19th-minute goal. However, the goal threat dissipated after a flurry of chances early in the second half.
Rodgers said: “In the second half, we just had a little spell where the game became too long for us. We didn’t shorten the game how we normally do and play quickly through the lines, so it got stretched a wee bit too much for my liking. But we always had control of the game.
“If I was nit-picking, I would say we have to be more clinical. We scored two and again could have had four or five.”
Rodgers took off Kyogo Furuhashi after the forward suffered a shoulder problem, although he is not expected to miss any games.
“His shoulder popped out,” Rodgers said. “I think it’s just one of those ones that, he had a fall and it knocked it out. The guys put it back in again, but he felt the soreness. I don’t need to risk him.”
With no other experienced strikers, winger Mikey Johnston replaced Furuhashi before going off himself following a facial knock.
“There are other players who can go in and play that position,” Rodgers said. “And that’s what we have to do while we’re waiting for players to come in.”
Hibernian head coach David Gray bemoaned the loss of the early goal and a poor first-half display which saw his side failed to register a shot.
“The thing that concerned me the most was the lack of composure on the ball at times,” Gray added. “We knew what we were going to face, even though some of the players had never faced it before.
“We need to learn quickly. Because we face it again in seven days’ time. So we need to learn that giving them a goal after three minutes makes it a long afternoon.
“Up until half-time, we carried nowhere near enough threat. A lot of individual errors. Celtic dominated from start to finish in that 45 minutes – and we were lucky to go in just 2-0 down.
“The second half was more positive. We were braver on the ball, carried a bit more threat. We still didn’t do enough to get back in the game. I’m not shying away from that. We know we need to be better.”
[(Shimizu S-Pulse) Weakness]: 1. Shimizu S-Pulse are 13th in the J1 League table. Facing 2nd-placed Kashima Antlers, they will find it hard to win this match due to their declining form, indicating doubtful motivation.2. Shimizu S-Pulse defender Yuji Takahashi and forward Sena Saito will miss this league game due to injuries.3. Shimizu S-Pulse were winless with 2 draws and 3 losses in the last 5 g...
Liverpool table fresh Guehi bidAccording to The Athletic, Liverpool have submitted a fresh bid worth £35 million ($47m) to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace. The Reds had earlier seen two bids rejected by the Eagles, but they remain hopeful that this time the offer will be accepted.Fenerbahce eyeing move for EdersonTurkish Super Lig giants Fenerbahce are eyeing a move for out-of-favour Manc...
Roma medical for Liverpool fullback TsimikasAS Roma are holding a medical for Kostas Tsimikas today.The Liverpool fullback is leaving Anfield after finding himself third-choice this season behind fellow left-backs Andrew Robertson and Milos Kerkez.La Gazzetta dello Sport says the Greece international is expected in Italy today to finalise his move.Tsimikas will undergo a medical ahead of signing a...
FBL-ENG-PR-CHELSEA-FULHAMMarco Silva has demanded an explanation from the Premier League after lambasting three "shocking" refereeing decisions in Fulham's 2-0 Premier League loss at Chelsea.WHAT HAPPENED?The Whites thought they had taken the lead against their west London rivals Chelsea when 18-year-old Josh King coolly slotted past Robert Sanchez. However, the goal was chalked off by referee Rob...
[(Shonan Bellmare) Strength]: 1. Shonan Bellmare are one of the bottom teams in the table, taking 25 points and being in the relegation zone. They are strongly motivated to grab points.[(Shonan Bellmare) Neutral]: 1. Shonan Bellmare drew the last 4 home games, revealing mediocre home performances.[(Shonan Bellmare) Weakness]: 1. Shonan Bellmare lost 1-0 to Fagiano Okayama on the road in the last g...
Manchester United Training Session And Press Conference - UEFA Europa League Final 2025Chelsea have completed the signing of Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United.WHAT HAPPENED?Garnacho has signed a seven-year contract with the Blues after the two Premier League clubs agreed a deal worth a fixed £40 million fee ($54m) with a 10 per cent sell-on clause, Goal understands. The 21-year-old ha...
Marc Guehi Crystal Palace 2025-26Liverpool have launched a fresh bid for Marc Guehi as they hope that Crystal Palace will finally accept their proposal and agree to sell their star defender before the summer transfer window closes on Monday. The Reds have been linked with a move for the England international throughout the summer and the champions are determined to secure his signature.WHAT HAPPEN...
West Ham United v Lille OSC - Pre-Season FriendlyAston Villa are close to signing West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta on an initial loan with an obligation to buy next summer.WHAT HAPPENED?Villa are on the brink of agreeing a £47 million (€54m/$63m) package for Paqueta which includes a loan fee and add-ons, according to Fabrizio Romano. The report also states the 28-year-old has ac...
[(Nagoya Grampus) Strength]: 1. Nagoya Grampus currently have only 28 points and are near the bottom of the league table. To avoid relegation, they need to earn points.[(Nagoya Grampus) Neutral]: 1. Nagoya Grampus' 7 successive games ended with OVER.[(Nagoya Grampus) Weakness]: 1. Nagoya Grampus lost 2-4 to Sanfrecce Hiroshima in their last Emperor's Cup game, with poor performance.2. In the lates...
Cody Gakpo Liverpool 2025Premier League champions Liverpool have confirmed that star attacker Cody Gakpo has put pen to paper on a new long-term contract, which has extended his stay at Anfield beyond 2028. The Dutchman who joined the club in January 2023, during the Jurgen Klopp era, has established himself as a regular starter under new boss Arne Slot and has now committed his future to the Reds...
