Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers did not hold back in a stunning post-match interview following his side’s humiliating 1-0 defeat to St. Johnstone, singling out midfielder Jeffrey Schlupp for a catastrophic error that led directly to the only goal of the match.
Speaking with raw emotion after the final whistle, Rodgers admitted, “I have never been this embarrassed before,” pointing the finger at Schlupp for a blunder that he claims “cost Celtic the match” and possibly a critical blow to their title hopes.
The loss at McDiarmid Park has sent shockwaves through the Celtic fanbase and could mark a major turning point in the club’s season. But it was Rodgers’ extraordinary public criticism of Schlupp that truly stole the headlines.
The decisive moment came in the 4th minute when Schlupp, under no immediate pressure near the halfway line, attempted a back-pass to his centre-half that lacked both power and direction. St. Johnstone’s Nicky Clark pounced on the gift, racing through one-on-one and calmly slotting past Joe Hart to put the hosts ahead.
The error sucked the life out of Celtic’s already flat performance, and they failed to mount any meaningful response for the remainder of the game. The full-time whistle was met with loud boos from the traveling supporters—and within minutes, Rodgers was in front of the cameras, looking visibly shaken and furious.
Rodgers Doesn’t Hold Back
In a rare moment of brutal honesty, Rodgers laid blame squarely on the shoulders of Schlupp.
“You can talk tactics, shape, injuries whatever. But when individual players switch off like that and hand goals to the opposition, it’s unacceptable,” he said. “That kind of mistake at this level is inexcusable.”
When asked whether he would continue to back Schlupp in the squad, Rodgers replied tersely:
“You can’t keep giving chances when the basics aren’t there. Football is ruthless and so are the expectations at Celtic.”
“His Celtic Career Might Be Over” Fans React
It didn’t take long for fans to echo Rodgers’ sentiments across social media. Within minutes, “Schlupp” was trending on X (formerly Twitter), with fans calling the mistake “schoolboy stuff” and accusing him of a complete lack of focus.
One fan posted: “That’s not a Celtic player. That’s a liability in green and white.”
Another wrote: “Jeffrey Schlupp has just ended his Celtic career with that pass. Can’t even look at him right now.”
Celtic fan forums have been flooded with calls for Rodgers to drop Schlupp from the squad entirely, with some even suggesting the club should terminate his loan or seek a sale in the next window.
The loss means Celtic’s lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership has either narrowed or evaporated, depending on Rangers’ result later today. With the season entering its final stretch, dropped points against a bottom-half side like St. Johnstone could prove devastating.
Rodgers acknowledged the bigger picture as well:
“We’re in a title race, and every game matters. Tonight we let ourselves down—badly.”
Schlupp Silent, But Future in Doubt
Jeffrey Schlupp did not speak to the media after the match and was seen heading straight down the tunnel at full-time. While the club has not officially commented on Rodgers’ remarks, sources inside the dressing room say the atmosphere was “tense and quiet.”
With upcoming fixtures against top-half opponents looming, Rodgers will now have to decide whether to stick with Schlupp or cut ties altogether. For now, one thing is certain: Celtic’s shock defeat and Schlupp’s role in it will be talked about for a long time to come.
