BREN: I TAKE BLAME FOR FLOP

BRENDAN RODGERS accepts it is his responsibility for Celtic's Tynecastle horror show yesterday - but insists he's still the man to turn things around.

- BY RYAN MCDONALD

The faltering champions plunged a whopping eight points behind runaway Premiership leaders Hearts after a shattering 3-1 defeat in Gorgie.

Raging fans have pointed the finger at the bungling Bhoys board for the club's staggering demise after a chaotic summer transfer window. But under-fire Rodgers accepts the buck stops with him for failing to get better displays from a multi-million-pound side.

“I've always taken responsibility, there's never been a time I haven't,” he said. “So I suggest when you're saying, 'Is there a time?' There's always a time.

“When you're the manager at Celtic, you're responsible for the results, despite whatever else happens.”

Defiant Rodgers, right, insists his confidence hasn't been dented despite back-to-back Premiership losses for the first time since December 2023.

He added: “My determination is pretty much there.

“I've never worked harder in all my time here, so the motivation is there to try and flip the levels that we're at.

“It's absolutely fine. It's still so early, that's the key point in it all.