Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has admitted that his current squad lacks the attacking strength that powered last season’s title-winning campaign, openly conceding that he’s being asked to deliver results without the proper resources to maintain the club’s usual high standards.
The 2-0 defeat to Dundee at Dens Park has intensified pressure on both Rodgers and the Celtic board, with frustration among supporters mounting over a quiet transfer window and a string of disappointing performances.
Rodgers’ post-match remarks — comparing his squad situation to being handed the keys to a “Honda Civic” and told to drive it like a “Ferrari” — were a thinly veiled criticism of the club’s recruitment strategy, highlighting his belief that the summer business fell well short of expectations.
With influential figures such as Kyogo Furuhashi, Matt O’Riley, and Nicolás Kühn all departing in the past year, Celtic’s attack has lost much of its pace, creativity, and goal threat. Rodgers acknowledged the need to find new solutions but stressed that his hands are tied until reinforcements arrive.
Speaking to Clyde 1 Superscoreboard, Rodgers said:
“We’ve lost a lot of firepower — a lot of goals — out of the team. There’s no way you can go into a race, be given the keys to a Honda Civic, and be told to drive it like a Ferrari. It’s not going to happen.
“Until something changes, I’ve got to find the answers. We’ve lost speed, goals — everything — and we need to find a way to improve. This is when you have to show strength. Winning trophies looks great from the outside, but dealing with pressure is part of the job.
“The performance today wasn’t good enough for Celtic. It’s not the standard of this club, and we have to find it again.”
Rodgers’ remarks were some of his strongest yet, signaling growing frustration over the club’s lack of attacking reinforcements. His analogy was deliberate — a message that he can only do so much with the tools provided.
Many fans have interpreted his comments as echoing their own concerns about the board’s lack of ambition, with some directing renewed criticism toward the hierarchy for failing to properly invest in the squad.
The defeat in Dundee has only deepened scrutiny on the club’s leadership, who now face mounting pressure to deliver meaningful backing when the transfer window opens.
With Celtic struggling to find consistency and a cutting edge in attack, Rodgers’ post-match statement has shifted attention firmly onto the boardroom. January now looms as a decisive moment — not only to strengthen the team, but to prove to Rodgers and the supporters that lessons have finally been learned.
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