"Brendan Rodgers Faces Familiar Demons as Celtic Crumbles in 7-1 Nightmare Against Dortmund

On a night that felt more like a dark comedy than a football match, Brendan Rodgers sat down to dissect the utter chaos that had just unfolded on the pitch. “We weren’t quite at our best,” he remarked after Celtic’s humbling 7-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund. It was a statement that, while undeniably true, barely scratched the surface of the reality his team faced.

Celtic’s Catastrophic Collapse

Within just half an hour, Celtic had descended into a state of panic, completely at the mercy of a ruthless Dortmund side. Their defensive frailties were on full display as the players committed errors so glaring that even a 10-1 scoreline wouldn’t have been out of the question. The mere sight of those iconic yellow and black jerseys seemed to send Celtic into a tailspin, shattering their composure and leaving them as quivering wrecks.

Julian Brandt took full advantage of the space afforded to him in midfield, and it was clear that Celtic lacked a player capable of snuffing out that kind of threat. There was no “destroyer” in the lineup to assert control or even make Brandt aware of his presence. In short, Celtic appeared soft.

Many of the goals stemmed from catastrophic lapses in concentration. In the buildup to Dortmund’s seventh, three Celtic players lost possession in a matter of seconds. “This was the acid test,” Rodgers declared before the match, hinting at his desire to elevate the team’s game. But one couldn’t help but wonder what direction he meant—up or down?

Misplaced Confidence?

Rodgers seemed buoyed by his team’s domestic success, implying that their ability to dominate lesser teams would translate to the European stage. But history has shown that such bravado often leads to disaster. This monumental defeat reaffirms a troubling pattern: Celtic falls into the trap of believing that the free-flowing football that works against St. Johnstone can also be applied to elite European clubs like Dortmund.

Pragmatism? Shoring up the defense? Celtic seemed to ignore the need for these tactics and instead tried to match Dortmund blow for blow. The result? A brutal lesson in reality.

A Pattern of Pain

This latest defeat marks another chapter in a story of repeated humiliations under Rodgers. In fact, this is the second 7-1 loss he’s endured at the helm, alongside previous thrashings of 5-0, 6-0, and 7-0. His tenure has been peppered with moments that highlight Celtic’s propensity to concede goals in clusters, a worrying trend that emerged again in Dortmund.

In past seasons, Celtic has frequently crumbled, conceding three goals in rapid succession—whether it was against Atletico Madrid or in the Europa League against teams like Leipzig and Valencia. On Tuesday night, the avalanche of goals came as no surprise; it was merely a continuation of a painful narrative.

A Call for Change

When asked if he would consider altering his formation after such a drubbing, Rodgers shrugged, saying, “Not really.” This lack of adaptability is concerning, especially with Celtic’s next challenge looming: a trip to face Atalanta, a formidable side that recently showcased their strength in the Europa League.

As he prepared for that clash, Rodgers had shared that he wasn’t seeking “perfection.” Thankfully for him, given the performance in Dortmund, that was far from his reality.

The Celtic manager seems trapped in a cycle of repetition, struggling to learn from past mistakes. The club’s fans can only hope that the lessons from this latest European debacle sink in before they face another daunting opponent.

Conclusion: History Repeats Itself

Brendan Rodgers has an undeniable talent for domestic success, but until he instills a sense of resilience and pragmatism in his team on the European stage, these painful nights will likely continue. If he doesn’t adapt, history may repeat itself once more, with even greater consequences.