Brendan Rodgers backs Kolo Toure as defender shoulders blame for Celtic loss

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers said no-one would be hurting more than Kolo Toure after the 2-0 Champions League defeat by Borussia Monchengladbach.

The Ivorian defender, 35, was at fault for goals from Lars Stindl and Andre Hahn as the German side secured their first points of the group stage.

Toure blamed himself for the defeat.

“He’s an honest player, so tonight will hurt him,” said Rodgers. “He’s also a warrior and a guy who’s mentally very tough and he will recover.”

Toure impressed as Celtic withstood periods of sustained pressure to go in at half-time level against the injury-hit visitors.

However, he was robbed of the ball by Hahn when attempting to shepherd it out of play inside the six-yard box, allowing Stindl to break the deadlock.

The former Liverpool player then lost possession to Hahn, who raced away to double the visitors’ lead.

“He’s experienced enough to know he should deal with the first one,” said Rodgers. “The second one was unfortunate, the guy’s worked away and finished it brilliantly.”

Toure was quick to shoulder responsibility for a loss that leaves Celtic bottom of the group with one point from three matches, admitting he had been “over-confident”.

“In this competition you can’t afford that kind of mistake,” he told BT Sport. “It was a simple action to just put the ball to the side, but I like to play.

“I don’t like to make mistakes. The game is very fast and you have to concentrate for 90 minutes.”

Celtic are now two points behind the German side, who they visit in two weeks’ time. Barcelona lead the group on nine points, with Manchester City on four.

Rodgers’ side next face Glasgow rivals Rangers in Sunday’s League Cup semi-final, before league visits to Ross County and Aberdeen.

“The players poured everything into the game against a top side,” said the Northern Irishman. “Scott Brown showed again that he’s a top player at this level and so did one or two others.

“At this level, mistakes get punished and that’s our disappointment; gifting them two goals.

“We’ll go again tomorrow and get ready for a big weekend.” BBC Sport