Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers stands by his comments following Sunday's defeat to Dundee, where he likened his players to a Honda Civic. Rodgers emphasized that one cannot expect a Civic to perform like a Ferrari, pointing to the club's disappointing summer transfer window. Celtic lost key players such as Kyogo and sold Adam Idah and Nicolas Kühn during the summer. With winger Jota still sidelined due to a long-term injury, the team is missing players who scored 58 goals last season. As a result, Celtic has failed to score in six of their first 14 matches this season.

Rodgers has repeatedly voiced his dissatisfaction with the club's transfer policy and the lack of adequate replacements for the departed stars. He explained that his comments were related to the team's speed, which is far from last year's level. Despite the criticism, Rodgers remains confident in his support for the players and has no intention of apologizing for his remarks.

Celtic hosts Austrian side Sturm Graz on Thursday, still seeking their first European victory of the season. In the domestic league, they trail leaders Hearts by five points, with the gap potentially widening to eight points if they lose at Tynecastle Park on Sunday. However, Rodgers' challenges extend beyond the pitch. Fans are protesting against the management, and the manager's contract expires next year. Despite everything, Rodgers, who has already won 11 trophies with the club, claims he is more motivated than ever to succeed.

Analysis: Rodgers faces significant challenges both on and off the field. Nevertheless, his determination to restore Celtic's success is evident. It will be intriguing to see if he can overcome the current difficulties and steer the team back to winning ways.