Brendan Rodgers: Dembele isn't just hungry for success - he's starving

Brendan Rodgers highlighted the hunger and desire of Moussa Dembele after Celtic's 2-0 win over Motherwell today, writes Joe McHugh.

The young striker has been the centre of attention since scoring a double against Manchester City in the Champions League and also notched twice during the international break for the French u-21 side.

Dembele was Rodgers first signing as Celtic manager with a £500,000 development fee paid to Fulham for the out-of-contract striker.

Brendan Rodgers speaking to the media following Celtic's 2-0 win over @MotherwellFC (MH) pic.twitter.com/OYIhBngQBq

— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) October 15, 2016

It will take a sum considerably larger than that to take Dembele away from Celtic with clubs in England and elsewhere keeping close tabs on his development in Glasgow.

Celtic had taken the lead in the 18th minute through Scott Sinclair but there was no sign of any further scoring as the game reached the final stages.

With four minutes left to play Dembele suddenly chased after a loose ball into the Motherwell box forcing visiting keeper Craig Sampson to take out the striker.

Dembele stepped up to net from the penalty spot with his manager delighted by the way his first signing earned the goal.

“The penalty was from absolute desire to get there,” Rodgers said. “For us to succeed it's not about being hungry for success it's about being starving.

“Really, really pushing yourself in moments when you think things have gone.

“That was a perfect example of the spirit in the team. They will chase everything, they will run, they will work.

“That passage looked dead, it looked like the ball was going to the keeper but he made it something.

“The best strikers do that out of nothing, they create something.

“Moussa made the penalty through every quality that I mentioned, and he tucked it away really well.”

In every previous home match Celtic had treated their fans to goals feasts, including four against Aberdeen, five against Rangers and six against Kilmarnock.

There was no repeat of that this afternoon but there was still plenty for the former Liverpool boss to take from his side's display.

Rodgers explained: “It was a very good win after the squad had been separated for a couple of weeks. In the first half we played some great stuff but we could have created more.

“Second half we played much better, we got two goals today, could have had five or six but importantly we didn't allow Motherwell a shot on our goal. We were very good in that aspect.”