Brendan Rodgers took a humorous approach when discussing Cameron Carter-Vickers’ unfortunate own goal, even cracking a joke about Nicolas Kuhn’s impressive assist record.
The Celtic manager and his team watched in dismay during their Champions League clash as Carter-Vickers’ attempted pass to goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel ended up rolling into the net. The veteran keeper, expecting the ball to come from German winger Nicolas Kuhn, was caught out of position. Despite the error, Celtic managed to rally, with Daizen Maeda scoring a spectacular goal that secured a crucial point, edging them closer to the knockout stages.
The own goal sparked surprise among pundits, with former Celtic defender John Mjällby quipping, “It’s not Christmas yet.” When asked if he had to lift Carter-Vickers’ spirits in training after the Parkhead mishap, Rodgers addressed the situation light-heartedly: “It’s about reinforcing it, really. It’s not so much about him specifically; it’s just one of those things that happen in football.”
The manager added a playful note: “I told Nicolas Kuhn not to claim the assist—he’s been racking up assists everywhere lately! But on a serious note, the lesson here was to get into shape earlier, and that’s the correction we’ve made.”
Rodgers also praised Carter-Vickers for his resilience and strong performance following the error, emphasizing his importance to the team: “He’s been a colossal player for this club and will continue to be. His response during the game was excellent. Mistakes happen, but the team’s reaction was commendable.”
The incident also led to an on-field discussion among players, with defender Alistair Johnston later revealing what was said during their crisis talks. Johnston credited the squad’s ability to regroup and stay focused, ultimately earning a hard-fought result in a high-stakes Champions League encounter.
The blunder, while memorable, did not overshadow Celtic’s overall performance, as Rodgers expressed satisfaction with the second half of the match. The team showed character in recovering from the mistake, a trait Rodgers believes will be crucial as they aim for progression in Europe’s elite competition.
With Carter-Vickers receiving strong backing from his manager and teammates, the focus now shifts to ensuring consistency and minimizing such errors in future matches, as Celtic continue their Champions League journey.