Brendan Rodgers reckons Celtic cynics have champions in 'constant crisis' as boss rails against Parkhead narrative

Brendan Rodgers reckons the critics have Celtic in constant crisis mode.

But the Parkhead boss is having none of it and insists he’s charging into today’s Old Firm crunch with a good feeling. Rodgers’ team took heavy recent criticism after defeats and have now suffered the body blow of losing Cameron Carter-Vickers for the Rangers showdown. But the manager is firmly upbeat as he backed Stephen Welsh to shine in the American’s absence whilst stating Liel Abada and Reo Hatate could also return.

Rodgers’ team could also go eight points clear with a triumph and he said: “I think if you read or listen to everything you would feel we were in constant crisis mode here. That’s what I feel. But I don’t think that way at all. It’s another great game for us. I think going into that last [Rangers] game we were off the back of not a really good result. We had performed well against St Johnstone but didn’t get the result. This time we are going in with a good feeling.”

Asked if chatter such as crisis talk felt any different to his first spell, Rodgers continued: “It’s just levels, isn’t it? But for me there is no difference.

“I just think it’s maybe how it is out there. For me we are still in a good place as a team. We are going to get better, we will hopefully improve the squad. Like I say, we’ll see where we get to at the end of the season.”

Losing Carter-Vickers is a major blow, but Welsh was an impressive stand-in for the Champions League win over Feyenoord. Liam Scales grabbed a similar chance at Ibrox in September and Rodgers said: “It really liked Stephen as a kid when I was here first of all. I was really impressed with his mentality and focus.

“He’s got mature. He’s played in these types of games before from a youth player,