Rodgers hails Brown’s masterful performance

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has hailed the role of Scott Brown after his captain’s impressive performance last night.

Brown, a veteran midfielder in a youthful Hoops side, was on the scoresheet as Celtic romped to a 5-2 win over Israeli side Hapoel Be’er Sheva.

The Hoops captain dominated in midfield and dictated the game all night, and his performance was capped off with a goal and Celtic’s fifth – as he celebrated like a man who was reminding people he’s not gone away just yet.

Twitter: Celtic 5-2 Hapoel Be’er Sheva (17/8/16) Rogic ⚽️ Griffiths ⚽️⚽️ Dembele ⚽️ Brown ⚽️ https://t.co/CKfeF76Px4 (@ReadCeltic)

Speaking after the game about the 31-year-old as quoted by the Daily Mail, Rodgers said:

I thought Scott was brilliant. Over the course of pre-season, he has become lean. I have seen him from the outside before, but I thought he looked powerful, just like the whole team did.
I look at Scott now and, having worked in England, this is a guy who play in the English Premier League, absolutely no question.

I thought he was outstanding with the ball. His goal driving forward was a wonderful finish and he almost score early on in the game. His dominance in the game, you see the importance of Browny.
As I’ve said all season, he’s really impressed me tactically and how he’s covered gaps and filled gaps. I thought he was one of many great performers.

Celtic started the game brightly and were three goals to the good before half-time through Leigh Griffiths and Tom Rogic, but all their hard work was undone in the space of two minutes in the second half.

Rodgers was bold in the game bringing on an attacking full-back in Saidy Janko and another striker in Moussa Dembele, and the manager got his reward in the second half as the latter scored one of Celtic’s two goals to put clear daylight between the sides again.

Many will be confident of progressing to the Champions League group stages after the result, however Rodgers has urged for caution ahead of the away tie next Tuesday, as Be’er Sheva have two away goals.