CELTIC manager Brendan Rodgers believes Alfredo Morelos will not need the provocation that Rangers counterpart Pedro Caixinha expects when the teams meet this weekend.
The 21-year-old Colombian striker hit the ground running when he arrived at Rangers from HJK Helsinki in the summer and has scored eight goals so far.
However, he could perhaps count himself lucky to have stayed on the pitch in the 2-2 draw with Partick Thistle last Friday night after appearing to kick out at opposition defender Jordan Turnbull.
Ahead of the Old Firm clash at Ibrox tomorrow, Caixinha said he knew Morelos was “going to be provoked” but admitted he would target the player if he was in the opposition dugout.
However, in his response, Rodgers said: “It is not really something we concentrate on.
“I don’t think he needs any help in that, watching the game the other night against Partick.
“We really concentrate on ourselves.
“He is a young boy who has come into the country and started his campaign well.
“He has got some goals and wants to score goals and sometimes when you are young you can get a wee bit fired up, but we concentrate on our own work.
“We always respect the other team and their qualities and focus very much on ourselves to get a good performance and result.”
Caixinha said he had warned Morelos to keep a lid on his emotions, suggesting Celtic would set out to unsettle him.
The Rangers boss said: “He’s enjoying playing games but he needs to control his emotional side. I need to send an alert and that alert is that I know he is going to be provoked.
“My concern and my job is making him calm and not responding to that. But he’s a guy that when things are growing and the environment is getting hot, he’s not stepping back and he faces the challenge.
“He just needs to understand how to face the challenge – because he is going to be challenged.
“I want him to have his temperament. If I take his temperament out then he’s losing his identity. He just needs to know how to control it. Especially in situations that are normal or when things are coming already as part of a game plan.”
Rodgers also responded to retired Wales striker Craig Bellamy’s claim that “no one” south of the Border cares what the Celtic boss achieves in Scotland as success is expected.
The Northern Irishman clinched the domestic treble in his first season in charge while going unbeaten in Scotland and he qualified Celtic for the Champions League two seasons running.
However, Bellamy– who spent six months on loan at Parkhead in 2005 – said: “His reputation of a great coach is there, but getting one of the top jobs again in the Premier League might be difficult for him..
“If you do well up there, it’s a case of ‘so you should’. I just didn’t feel it mattered to anyone down south.”
The former Swansea City and Liverpool boss said: “Craig is a guy I respect. He was a very good player who came up here so he understands what it is like up here.
“I am not up here to work on my next move from Celtic. I am here because of Celtic.
“I love my life here in Glasgow, I enjoy working for this club and preparing my team along with my staff for us to win and win well.
“My only worry is for Celtic, to do the best I possibly can here for the length of time I am here.
“After here if it takes me back to Ballymena United in Northern Ireland or elsewhere abroad or the Premier League so be it.”
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