'Soft' Celtic eviscerated by raging Brendan Rodgers who just can’t cool his fury

Furious Brendan Rodgers tore a half time strip off his Celtic stars accusing them of being SOFT before a late salvo saved three points at St Johnstone.

The Hoops boss insists it’s the angriest he has ever been in a dressing room as he laid into his players in Perth with his side 1-0 down. Rodgers said they were bullied as Diallang Jaiyesimi bundled home a 40th minute opener. And he reckons his players were guilty of becoming too comfortable in a Hoops shirt and losing their aggression.

Callum McGregor dragged his side level with a brilliant half volley after 67 minutes before Matt O’Riley and James Forrest sealed victory. But there was no hiding Rodgers’ anger after he had refused to calm down following his Sky Sports and broadcast interview duties, saying: “I’m still angry, if I’m honest. The first half was nowhere near what you expect from a Celtic player and team. Just the level of intensity and ambition in the game, the speed, we were absolutely nowhere near it.

“We got bullied for the goal and we were soft in everything, with and without the ball. Half-time was the angriest I’ve ever been as a manager.

“People who have been around me will know I’m normally very calm. It was nothing tactical; this was about desire and what it takes to play for this club. Thankfully in the second half the players were brilliant. Callum McGregor was outstanding, and I got more of the energy and ambition that I want.”

Asked why he thought his side had been so passive, Rodgers continued: “It’s comfort. It’s the biggest pitfall in succeeding, that you become timid and lose your aggression. It’s easily done, but it’s my job to guard against it. It was just nowhere near the level. I said to the players afterwards, don’t make me be like