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Brendan Rodgers credits Celtic jetsetters for sending them into orbit as Rangers and Aberdeen watch them disappear
Brendan Rodgers hailed his jet setting stars for helping Celtic take advantage of Aberdeen and Rangers’ slip-ups to move clear at the top.
And the Hoops boss reckons they're ready to crank up a gear in the title race after thumping Hearts 4-1 in Gorgie. Eight of Rodgers’ starting XI had only just returned from international duty days earlier with goalscorer Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate having travelled half the world with Japan.
But they dug deep to blow the Jambos away with a second half salvo. It came just a couple of hours after Rangers slipped up 1-1 at home to Dundee United and Aberdeen lost their first league game of the season at St Mirren. It all means Celtic are now three points clear of the Dons and a monster 11 ahead of Rangers after just 12 games. And Rodgers said: “I think if some of your nearest rivals drop points then you want to be able to take advantage of that even though it's very early on.
“But it's still always about your own self, having to perform. I think everyone recognises coming here with only 500-odd supporters who were absolutely brilliant.
“We heard them all night. Difficult conditions today for people travelling to games but for them to get there, give us that support and for us to reward them with a win was great. So, it's a little gap now but as I said, we've just got to focus on ourselves and just keep increasing it.
“It’s keeping that mentality right to the very end. It's another plus three goals for us that adds to the goal difference and that's what we want to keep pushing for. The guys coming into the game affected it. It's a great testament, I have to say, coming off the back of the travel that some of these guys have done.
“I thought just looking at us a little bit at times, we were a little bit leggy in the first half in some moments. But you've got guys that are travelling, the Japanese players halfway around the world, Auston Trusty, Ali Johnson travelling away and joining the team on Friday.
“So, the beauty is a fantastic second half but I know we'll get that synchronisation back again and there's no more international breaks. We'll get that fluidity and quality back into the team.”
Asked if his players had been boosted pre-match by Rangers and the Dons dropping points Rodgers said: “Not really, no. I think you can only look after yourself. I think we had a game here last year where our rivals lost and we came here and lost.
"So, it was irrespective. For us, we just focus on ourselves and make sure we get the win in the performance.”
Adam Idah appeared to have objects thrown at him from the Hearts end after scoring his first goal in the 4-1 win. Rodgers said: "It's always a concern. I didn't see that, but it's never good.”
Meanwhile, Idah’s double took his tally to seven for the season. And the Irishman said: "I'm really happy. I said this week that I want to set myself some goals.
"The main one was to score more goals so I'm happy with how I played tonight. The most important thing was the three points.
"We have so many games and everyone is here to make an impact. Everyone is doing their bit.
"Everyone wants to do well. For now, we're doing well and we have to keep going.
"Nicolas has been fantastic since pre-season. He's been unbelievable."
