By Frank McAvennie

9th Oct, 2023 | 10:00am

Celtic stars feel 'uncomfortable' with Brendan Rodgers - expert

The Celtic players do not look comfortable playing Brendan Rodgers’ style of football.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former Hoops striker Frank McAvennie said that he doesn’t like the way Rodgers wants the team to play and suggested it could have been part of the reason for the loss to Lazio.

Since Rodgers took over from Ange Postecoglou this summer, fans have seen a change from a high-intensity, fast-paced, goalscoring style to a much slower, build-up based football.

Whilst the northern Irishman has been enjoying domestic success – the Hoops currently sit atop the Scottish Premiership table – in Europe, they have struggled.

On Wednesday (4 October), despite a dominant performance the Scottish champions were beaten 2-1 by Italian side Lazio in the second matchday of the Champions League.

Celtic went 1-0 up thanks to an early goal from Kyogo Furuhashi but an equaliser and an injury time winner left the Hoops without any points.

McAvennie hasn’t been convinced by what he’s seen from the new manager.

“I am not too sure about the slow passing at the back,” he told Football Insider.

“I am not a big fan of that. In the game against Lazio it was not working, it was not pulling them out.

“I do not think the players look too comfortable, if Kyogo and [Daizen] Maeda were playing against us I think the boys would have panicked.

“When the boys are put under pressure I do not think they look as comfortable as when they have not got anyone near them. But that is what the manager wants to do. It is a different way from the last manager but you can’t do anything about it.“

In other news, winger wants to quit Celtic for good after talks with chiefs.