Everything that Brendan Rodgers said to Celtic TV after the club's 4-0 victory over DC United in Washington


What can you say about the Celtic supporters who turned out in their numbers for this match?

I'm sure they'll have a great night as well. It has been absolutely fantastic. They have come from all parts of the world not just America to see Celtic and to have so many of them here is great. They always turn up and it was great as that gave the intensity in the game that we wanted. They are a real special support.

What about your team's performance? It was 4-0 but it could have been 8 or 9 with the chances that you created.

I was really pleased with the performance in terms of this stage of the season. I think I mentioned before the game that one of our key targets was the defensive intensity. I always think that when you have that defensive attitude in the game it helps bring the offensive attitude which is fast and dynamic. I thought we pressed the game so well. All the guys from the first whistle were in contention. They were making the last step to win the ball. That sped up our offensive play. Some of our football on a really difficult surface was exceptional. In the moments we had to defend we did that. Our physicality was really good at this stage and where we are at. Across the board we had some young players coming in and they did really well.

For those who didn't know about the pitch, you wouldn't have noticed anything because of the way your team played but how difficult a surface was it to play on?


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I said to the players that this was a game for them to show technically how good they are. It was like when we won the title at Kilmarnock on the plastic pitch and I told them to have no excuses. We are here to increase our physicality and improve tactically but technically get your first touch sorted. Your first touch is the characteristic of the top player. Tonight you would not have thought because of the way they coped with the ball and the technique which allowed us to play forward. It was really impressive.

The result isn't everything at this stage of the season but the boys like winning football matches. Did that give them a great end to the first week in the USA?

It's been a hard week for them as they have put in a lot of work in the heat. To come here and finish off the week like we did and score the goals that we did and they were really good goals and we had a host of other chances as well. We bedded some of the youngsters into the structure who had done well in the training and they got their reward playing the games. It is another step for us.

Finally, Kasper Schmeichel is here. If he didn't know the size of the club he does now. Have you had a chance to speak to him yet?

Yes. I spoke to him at length. Again, he always understood the size of the club. I told him beforehand that Celtic is a massive club. It is small as a family inside it. He'll find the Celtic family is like no other. He sees the hallmarks of a big club. He was brought up with his father at a huge club. With all the supporters at the hotel and all these symbols of the notion of a big club, he will see Celtic supporters everywhere and he will feel that during his time here. I know he is really excited and I am excited for him also.