That was rather enjoyable for the Celtic supporters.
Celtic love a pre-season friendly win over English sides; they showcased it last season against Chelsea and Manchester City, and now Brendan Rodgers’ side have done it again.
On Saturday afternoon, Celtic put four goals past Newcastle United to show their supporters they are starting to seriously gear up for the new campaign.
Eddie Howe’s men secured Champions League football last season, including winning a trophy for the first time in 70 years, and are one of the top sides in the English Premier League.
And Newcastle got their flowers from the man in the Celtic Park dugout.
Photo by Joaquin Corchero / Europa Press Sports via Getty ImagesBrendan Rodgers states where Celtic could never match Newcastle United
This was a comfortable win for Celtic, and a deserved four goals with Arne Engels, Johnny Kenny, Hyunjun Yang and Liam Scales all getting on the scoresheet.
Despite that, Rodgers told Celtic TV that his team simply can’t match Newcastle ‘physically’ because he thinks they are probably ‘the best’ in the Premier League at it.
That’s why the Celtic manager wanted to laud his players for showcasing high-quality ‘technical’ skills during the game.
“It was always going to be a really good exercise for us against a top team and top players,” said Rodgers.
“But I thought the boys were very, very good. Naturally, we are after fitness and to develop that. But some of the football, and the ideas we have been talking about and working on over pre-season, we can see that. Yeah, it was very impressive.
“It’s hard for us to match it physically because I don’t think you can. Having worked against Newcastle before, and the group that Eddie has put together, physically, they are arguably the best in the Premier League.
“So, what you have to do is you have to be really, really good with the ball, and be really physically good. Technically good, sorry, and that’s what we were. Technically, we were so good in the game, and then we found our little patterns, and we got into good spaces.”
Rodgers lauds Eddie Howe’s job at Newcastle
Once upon a time, Howe was linked to the Celtic job, but nothing came about, and he ended up taking the gig at St James’ Park.
From Bournemouth to Newcastle, the Englishman has had an impressive managerial career so far, and he got plaudits from his opposite number.
Rodgers wanted to highlight the ‘brilliant job’ Howe has been doing at Newcastle, and how they are a team that tests ‘all your qualities.’
“When you are playing against a team from the English Premier League, you are then playing against one of the top teams,” said Rodgers.
“Especially Newcastle as well. The size of the club and how they have been building with Eddie, who has done a brilliant job there.
“So, you know you are going to face a real stern test of all your qualities, and I think we saw that.”