Tactical flexibility is key for Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers believes flexibility will be key to his second year in charge at Celtic.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers. Picture: SNS/Rob Casey

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The Northern Irishman took over from Ronny Deila in the summer of 2016 and guided the Hoops to the domestic treble last season without losing a game.

After suffering a 5-0 beating by Paris St Germain in their Champions League opener on Tuesday night, Rodgers made five changes and went with a bold 3-1-4-2 formation for the visit of Ross County in the Ladbrokes Premiership on Saturday.

Midfielder Tom Rogic opened the scoring with a drive in the 13th minute and three minutes from the break, 21-year-old French striker Moussa Dembele, back for the first time since July after recovering from a hamstring injury and partnering Leigh Griffiths, fired in his first of the season.

Winger James Forrest added two more in the second half to take Celtic two points clear of Aberdeen at the top of the table ahead of the trip to Dundee in the Betfred Cup on Wednesday night.

Rodgers, who confirmed missing left-back Kieran Tierney had simply been rested, said: “I always look at the opponents.

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“I have been up here for a year and I have been able to see how teams set up.

“What is important is noting the flexibility of the players.

“They are going into all these systems that I am throwing at them.

“We play teams four/six times a year and of course Celtic always has to be dominant.

“It can never be stale. You never can be predictable and so having the flexibility to play the different systems that we do will hopefully make it challenging for the opponents each time we play.

“Playing with the two strikers, the width and numbers on the inside it worked well. Let’s see what Dundee brings.”