crazywin Celtic Vs Kilmarnock: Brendan Rodgers Praises Team After 2-1 Scottish Cup Triumph

Callum McGregor during the game. Callum McGregor during the game.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers was pleased following his side's 2-1 victory at home to Kilmarnock in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup. (More Sports News)

The match itself was a tighter affair than most had expected, but Rodgers was just happy that his team managed to get over the line.

"It was a game that should have been a lot more comfortable than the scoreline. I'm not really sure what xG is but I'd be interested to know what ours was," he said.

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"We reacted in the second half, kept fighting, kept working. The objective was to get through and we did that."

Captain Callum McGregor opened the scoring in the 12th minute and, while Bobby Wales levelled for Kilmarnock in first-half stoppage time, Daizen Maeda slotted the winner with 20 minutes to go.

Following that goal, the home side went on to hit the woodwork and have a goal disallowed, but McGregor echoed the sentiments of his manager at full-time.

"The job was to be in the next round and we've done that today," he told Premier Sports.

"Some unbelievable football at times, I can't believe it's only 2-1. We've got a wee bit of work to do on the finishing, but the main thing is we're in the hat for the next round.

"It's always a tough game, you've got to get running and skip lines and we did all of that. The game should have been more comfortable than what it was but we always knew it would be a tough game against Kilmarnock.

"If you can't win well then it's important that you just win."

We progress to the next round of the #ScottishCup! #CELKIL | #CelticFC pic.twitter.com/XnrYaPNOiS

— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) January 18, 2025

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes, meanwhile, acknowledged his side's brave performance at Celtic Park, despite being disappointed to be on the losing side.

"We wanted to come here, with the odds stacked against us, and be competitive. We had a dressing room full of belief," he told BBC Scotland.

"We came here depleted and it didn't help much when we have two injuries in the first half.

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"Celtic were enjoying the first half too much for my liking. We finished the first half strong, and we went, as we planned, man for man in the second half. Risk and reward. We spooked Celtic in the second half."

With the January transfer window in full swing, Rodgers also suggested that he and Celtic are prepared for business in the days and weeks ahead.

"We know exactly what we want to do [in the window]. Up to this pointcrazywin, the players have been very good but we know what we need and what we want," said Rodgers.