Rodgers Insists Celtic Are 'Nowhere Near Our Level' After 200th Victory
Despite admitting Celtic aren't at their best, Brendan Rodgers hailed his players' grit as they staged a dramatic stoppage-time comeback for his 200th win in charge.
Brendan Rodgers criticized Celtic's performance after his 200th win as manager, insisting his team fell short of its standards despite a 3-2 stoppage-time victory over Motherwell.
"We're nowhere near our level," Rodgers said after seeing his side come from behind to maintain an unbeaten league start and close the gap on leaders Hearts to two points.
Celtic fell behind, recovered, then conceded before Benjamin Nygren capitalized on a goalkeeping error to level in the 69th minute. Daizen Maeda then headed in a 92nd-minute winner, sparking wild celebrations at Parkhead.
Rodgers praises resilience and substitutions
Rodgers highlighted the impact of his substitutes, particularly Nygren and Michel-Ange Balikwisha, whose delivery set up Maeda.
Japan forward Maeda, who scored just twice in 12 games after a standout previous season, faced summer transfer speculation. Rodgers admitted the unrest had affected Maeda but applauded his commitment and described the winning goal as "a special moment" for him and his family.
"For four years he's given his heart and soul to this club," Rodgers added. "Despite the disappointment, he's shown up and worked hard every single game."
Celtic showed stubborn resilience, with Rodgers insisting his side still has room for improvement despite the dramatic late triumph.
This topic was reported by BBC Sport.
Explore useful articles in Sports News as of 06-10-2025. The article titled " Rodgers Insists Celtic Are 'Nowhere Near Our Level' After 200th Victory " offers in-depth analysis and practical advice in the Sports News field. Each article is carefully crafted by experts to provide maximum value to readers.
The " Rodgers Insists Celtic Are 'Nowhere Near Our Level' After 200th Victory " article expands your knowledge in Sports News, keeps you informed about the latest developments, and helps you make well-informed decisions. Each article is based on unique content, ensuring originality and quality.