Rodgers says Celtic on course for 'brilliant season'

GLASGOW: Brendan Rodgers says his Celtic side can still meet their mid-season targets, even though their record-breaking unbeaten domestic run has come to an end.
After their 69-match undefeated record came to a halt against Hearts last weekend, the Scottish champions returned to winning ways on Wednesday with a 2-0 victory over Partick Thistle.
Hoops boss Rodgers said his players are on track to tick off the three targets he asked them to achieve by the end of the year - Europa League qualification, retaining the League Cup and opening up a double-digit gap between his side and second place in the Scottish Premiership.
The Scottish champions have already achieved the first two, with a 2-0 win over Motherwell in November in the final of the League Cup and a Europa League last 32 tie with Zenit St Petersburg to look forward to in February.
Celtic will now aim to extend their five-point lead at the top of the table when they host second-place Aberdeen on Saturday.
"I said to the players a number of weeks ago that our three targets coming towards December 30 were to win the League Cup, qualify for the Europa League and have a double-figure advantage by the time the winter break comes,"
"If we achieve that, then we've had a brilliant season. If we don't get the double figures, as long as we have a gap, then that will represent an outstanding start for the players through Champions League qualification," Rodgers said.
"That would be a great, great end to the year for us."
The Hoops host the Dons on Saturday and then make a trip to Dundee on Boxing Day before Old Firm rivals Rangers come calling on 30 Dec.
Rodgers is looking forward to ending the year on a high with strong performances against some of their closest rivals in the league.
"We know there are a number of teams that will make it difficult up at the top end, we just look forward to playing the game Saturday," the Celtic manager added.
"We want to get ourselves through to the winter break knowing that we can refresh and really push on powerfully and strongly in the second part of the season."
The Hoops have won all seven of their fixtures against Aberdeen since Rodgers took charge at Celtic Park, but the Dons arrive in Glasgow on the back of three successive victories since manager Derek McInnes turned down the opportunity to take over former club Rangers.
The Gers, with head of youth development Graeme Murty still in temporary charge, will hope to keep up the pressure on the top two by returning to winning ways against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
The sides drew 1-1 back in Killie manager Steve Clarke's first game in charge - a result which led to the departure of then Gers boss Pedro Caixinha.

Fixtures (1500 unless otherwise stated)
Saturday
Kilmarnock v Rangers (13.30)
Celtic v Aberdeen
Hibernian v Ross County
Motherwell v Dundee
Partick Thistle v Hamilton
St Johnstone v Hearts

— AFP