Rodgers Acknowledges Fan Frustration Following Celtic's Stalemate

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers addressed the frustrations of the club's supporters following a lackluster 0-0 draw with Kazakh side Kairat in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League play-off tie. The Scottish champions now face a challenging away leg in Almaty.

The match at Celtic Park saw fans expressing their discontent midway through the second half, with chants of "sack the board" echoing around the stadium. This outcry comes amidst growing frustrations over the club's perceived lack of transfer activity during the summer window.

Rodgers, speaking to TNT Sports, acknowledged the fans' frustration but stressed that it is typically the manager who faces the consequences in such situations. "It's the manager that gets the sack, it's not the board," he said. He also highlighted the need for squad improvement to compete at the highest level.

"The guys that are out there, especially the top end of the pitch, they're giving their all, they're giving everything," Rodgers said. "But like we've said many times, in order to progress at this level and into European football, we need to have more. It's as simple as that. But we won't have that for Tuesday."

The Celtic manager reiterated his belief that the club needs to bolster its squad to perform at the desired level. "This is a performance club. That starts on the field. You do that by getting the very best players you possibly can to allow you to perform, to play a style that excites supporters," he stated.

Rodgers also admitted that he feels the current squad is not equipped to compete at the highest level. "I accept the responsibility as the manager of the club. I can't tell you anything that I'd like to. There are only so many ways I can dress up that we don't have the players here. The privilege is mine to be here," he said.

The second leg of the play-off tie will take place next Tuesday, with Celtic facing a grueling journey to Almaty. Rodgers remains optimistic about his team's chances but acknowledges the need for improvement. "There's no doubt we can go there and win. Of course, you want to take an advantage with you. It's still very much in the balance," he concluded.