Brendan Fraudgers!

Celtic Under-20s coach Shaun Maloney believes manager Brendan Rodgers will remain at the club long-term given the transformation he has overseen.

Rodgers said at the club's AGM on Wednesday that he sees no reason why he wouldn't stay to try to lead the club to 10 straight Scottish titles.

Their sixth arrived in his first season and his side remain unbeaten in 63 domestic matches.

"He has impacted on every department of the club," Maloney told BBC Scotland.

"I have only been there three months and there couldn't be a better place for a young coach to go in and work and learn.

"There is a different culture to anything I have ever seen at the club. The feeling at Celtic at the moment is this is not short-term. I really hope that continues and the manager and staff are still there for a number of years.

"He knows exactly how he wants his teams to play, and how he wants people to act in all departments. If anyone drops below that, he will let them know, players or staff."

Former Scotland winger Maloney, who started his career at Celtic Park and later returned to the club after a year at Aston Villa, joined Rodgers' staff in August as a development coach after retiring from playing.

He revealed Rodgers regularly invites the club's promising youngsters to train with the senior squad, and "knows all the players in my squad".

"He sees the (U20s) players a lot.," Maloney told BBC Sportsound. "A lot of our players will train on a daily basis with the first team. We had four today. There have been numerous other times where we have had more than that.

"It is not like the manager will come onto our training pitch. It is the opposite. The players see a lot of him compared to what has happened at other times at the club.

"He will watch as much of our games as possible, particularly in the Youth Champions League. I will speak to him about it the day after.

"He is very generous with his time. It is not just the Under-20s. It is the academy as well - he will do in-service days for 30-odd staff on international breaks.

"It definitely feels like this isn't a short-term thing. It feels like the club is building something."

'One thing he does spend money on is good quality carpet'


Former Celtic midfielder Kris Commons, who didn't feature under Rodgers as he battled for fitness before being released in May, says the manager's influence can be seen everywhere.

"He has a great understanding of the expectations required to be successful," Commons told Sportsound. "He has improved every department - from the security as you walk in, to the kitchen, the sports science. The place looks like something from Wall Street - there are that many monitors and TVs, that many people working there.

"I think he has seen every side of it at Liverpool, at Swansea and Chelsea, as a young coach coming through. He has seen what is required to be successful. If you don't tick the box, he will come in and say 'this is how it is meant to be done'. Not in a ruthless way, not 'my way or the highway'. Just 'this is how it works'.

"From when I walked through the doors at Celtic seven years ago, to what it is today, it is not just a transformation, it is a different world, a different planet."

Commons also revealed that Rodgers' desire for the highest standards extends to his office floor.

"He spends money like there is no tomorrow!" he added. "One thing he does spend money on is good quality carpet. You go in his office and I swear I have never seen carpet that thick in my life.

"You almost need a rugby scrum just to shut the front door - it is phenomenal. But it was lovely…I wanted to take my shoes off just to feel it between my feet!"

 

Watched the Celtic's Invincibles program that Sky made. Hadn't seen it before. Found it interesting that Broony and Griffiths said that when Brendan first arrived as manager, one of the first things he told the players was that they were going to have to get a lot fitter in order to play the style of football Brendan wanted to play. Makes you wonder what the fitness levels were actually like when Ronny Deila was here. So much for him turning us into a super fit team, which is one of the things he kept banging on about when he first arrived.

 

in fairness ronny probably tried and failed to do that, no idea what went on day to today but if you told me he softened up on things like diet etc in his second season so he didnt lose the dressing room I wouldn't be suprised.

not placing all the blame on the players I get the impression he wasn't very good at expressing what exactly he wanted out of the players tactic wise, im sure commons said they didnt really have a plan b when we were 2-0 down to malmo away. the players seem to know exactly what is wanted of them now which is great

 

Brendan Rodgers has clarified that he will attempt to sign another defender in the January transfer window.

Celtic have had a defensive nightmare since the season began with Erik Sviatchenko, Dedryck Boyata and Jozo Simunovic all injured at key moments.

Rodgers was forced to go into critical UEFA Champions League qualifiers and games with Nir Bitton deployed as a centre-half because of the defensive headaches posed by the lack of personnel.

However, he has confirmed that the club will be on the look-out to add to the existing squad when the transfer window re-opens in January.

“There is no doubt, for sure, we need to get another centre-half and that’s something we are looking at,” said Rodgers. “We have really good centre-halves – but you need to have them available.

“And availability is one of the huge things for me. A player needs to be available to play games.

“So there is no doubt it’s a position we are looking at.

“It’s something where, hopefully, going forward we won’t have the same issues we’ve had over the last couple of pre-seasons which have been difficult for us.”

And Rodgers was also defensive of the contribution made by Bitton.

The Israeli internationalist was criticised on the back of some of his defensive displays something that Rodgers bristled at.

“I know there has been a lot of talk about Nir Bitton, but Nir Bitton has been brilliant for me over the course of these games,” said the Celtic manager.

“We all knew he was a midfield player but we were in a position where we had to try to find a way to get through into the Champions League.

“He did exceptionally well in some of the games, even the last game against Bayern Munich, when he was absolutely outstanding.

“It doesn’t take away the fact we will still look for a centre-half, but what he did for us…

“I just felt that some people were looking to confirm their own bias towards him, in relation to him not being a centre-half.

“In doing so they actually forgot the brilliant job he did for us over the course of that campaign.

“But we want to continue strengthening the squad and want to continue in this moment as Celtic supporters and continue with this success.”

Rodgers also revealed the difficulty of trying to get the right players into the club when he has been down defensively.

“I’ve been here two pre-seasons now and over the course of those two we’ve had to rejig our defensive line because of injuries and it’s not ideal, that’s for sure,” he explained at the club’s AGM yesterday.

“What you always have in your mind is to see the extent of the injury and how long the player is going to be out.

“And, two, what has been quite unique in terms of the last two pre-seasons we’re had – maybe three – down at the same time.

“Then you have to ask the question, okay, if we want to get another one in you have to look at the availability of the player and ask, ‘is he going to come straight in?

“Last year we were able to go and get Kolo Toure. Kolo was an experienced player, 35 years of age and I knew him well.

“I knew he wouldn’t last the whole season but he was able to come in and help us through beginning of the season until some of the other guys got fit. But there are not too many Toure’s about.

“If you bring in a young player on a loan for example he might have no games in his legs coming into the pressure of here, which can dwarf a player. We are playing some of the biggest games of the season in the Champions League.

“Or do you rejig it about and make the best of what you have?”

 

BR on @kierantierney1's POTM award: "He's an exceptional young talent who works well consistently. A number of players in our squad could have won it but he's been outstanding and is developing well."

BR: "His best position is left-back. If he plays there for @ScottishFA, that's where they'll get the maximum from a super-talented player. He is very versatile but his threat when he plays out wide is where he is most effective."

BR: "He has a wonderful temperament and always works on areas that need improvement. He’ll play wherever he’s asked but he's more suited in a role here he can push forward, create and score goals."

BR on KT's @ScottishFA captaincy: "It typifies him how he coped with it. He’s a very talented boy and a wonderful lad. A wonderful ambassador for Scottish football."


BR on Michael O'Neill/@ScottishFA rumours: "It'll be about what Michael sees as his next challenge. He's done a brilliant job for Northern Ireland."


BR: "There's a really talented bunch of players in Scotland, the nucleus of a very good squad. They have a good chance of qualifying for the Euros and the 2022 World Cup."



BR on @MDembele_10: "Now he has his fitness, it’s a case of managing that. He took his goals really well [for @equipedefrance]. He’s an outstanding talent."

BR: "I think, in time, he will [step up to the senior squad]. No doubt he has the belief and the talent which he’s shown at #UCL level. He can do no more than what he is doing; scoring goals for club and country."


BR: "@OlivierNtcham scored a great goal the game before as well. Brilliant goals from both boys


BR on players qualifying for the @FIFAWorldCup: "Delighted for the boys. I watched Tom's game which was great, although we were sad for Emilio. Sweden did fantastic against Italy and of course @Cris_GamboaCR is going as well."


Brendan Rodgers confirmed the only unavailable players for this weekend's game against @RCFCStaggies are @anthonyralston8 [injury] and @Tom_Rogic, who is yet to return from international duty.

 

Dreams FC coach Charles Akunnor with Brendan at training today







Allan Preston watching on with Brendan

 

Given the magnitude of the games on the immediate horizon for Celtic this month, tomorrow afternoon’s trek to Dingwall could well be regarded as an inconvenience.

The long journey north for an afternoon kick-off, though, is regarded by Brendan Rodgers as important to his team as next week’s trip to Paris to play PSG in the UEFA Champions League and as important as the weekend date at Hampden against Motherwell in the League Cup next weekend.

The small matter of a winning run of games that currently sits at 63 aside, Rodgers has taken Celtic to their current standing through a philosophy that doesn’t allow for any day where permission is granted to drop the standard.

And the Hoops boss doesn’t plan on starting now.

“It’ll end at some point,” he said of the record breaking run of domestic games without defeat. “But we only focus on the next game and we won’t be giving it up easy, that’s for sure.

“The squad is coming back now. I see the competitiveness in the players now – we have Patrick [Roberts] back training, [Jozo] Simunovic is back training and the players are hungry. We are working tirelessly every day.

“We go in knowing it is a tough game against Ross County but we go into every game planning to win. There is no difference. We don’t think about anything other than the Ross County game.”

For the first time this season, Rodgers is closing in on having a fully fit and available squad to choose from, particularly in the defence.

Simunovic and Erik Sviatchenko have trained with the latter also having got some game time in last week at youth level as he embarks on his return from a knee ligament injury.

In addition, Leigh Griffiths has been able to utilise the international break to shake off a calf injury while Stuart Armstrong and Scott Brown who both had minor ailments which kept them out of Scotland’s friendly against Holland last week are both also set to return to action.

The availability of a full squad coincides nicely with a defining run of games for Celtic, with the possibility of securing European football after Christmas a possibility while the first silverware of the season is up for grabs too.

It was at this stage last term between now and January where Celtic put down their opening marker and the intention is to repeat that feat again this term.

“It’s the same idea,” said Rodgers. “Once all the players are back from international duty, we will focus in on this next period through to the end of December.

“We have clear goals and targets to try and achieve in this period and that’s something which will make sure we keep our minds focused on our work.

“It’s a great spell of games, it’s where we need the squad, but they are brilliant games for us. “It’s still very early but we just have to keep focusing on ourselves. We have to play well. We’ve got a lot of games, really exciting fixtures. We know what we want to achieve but we know there is a lot of hard work involved.

“We will see over the next 24 hours where Patrick and Jozo are at. They may need a wee bit more time but we will see how they feel.

“Leigh is back training this week. Erik [Sviatchenko] played 45 minutes of a practice match last week. They are maybe not football fit. There is a difference between fit and football fit but the availability is there.”

Kieran Tierney will reach a significant landmark on Saturday when he makes his 100th appearance for the club.

The left-back also captained his country last week at Pittodrie, an image that Rodgers believes is a sign of things to come.

Tierney has stepped into that role for Celtic this season too and Rodgers fully expects that the player will lead both club and country in the years ahead.

“He has shown those qualities,” said Rodgers. “He is a young guy who is developing and maturing on and off the field. I heard him speak at the end of the season at the Scottish Football Writers’ Association dinner and I thought he spoke so well.

“It is nice to see young players come on in all aspects and see the interpersonal skills improve. It is brilliant watching that maturity develop. Because of his level of play he has the respect and how he carries himself.

“His first target will be 50 games. That is what they all look to at international level and if he can stay injury free then there is every chance he will go on and get many more caps. He can be a great leader for Scotland and I think he will be a captain here at Celtic one day. He is learning off a great captain at the minute in Scott Brown.”

Callum McGregor also featured for his country for the first time last week with Rodgers expecting that he will play a much fuller role under a new manager than he did under Gordon Strachan.

“At that level, there is still more to come from Callum as he gains more confidence,” he said.

“He has this great ability to keep the ball and that’s so important at international level.

“You see it in the Champions League, so he’ll be an important player over the next 10 years for Scotland.”

 

There is losing weight and there is being fit to last 90 minutes on a football field.

Ronny seemed to have the secret to weight loss but the fact is the team looked out on their * after 65/70 minutes.

 

BT interview
https://mobile.twitter.com/CelticGoals/status/931867257730486272/video/1

 

Brendan after today's game
https://mobile.twitter.com/CelticGoals/status/931896238416498693/video/1

https://mobile.twitter.com/celticfc/status/931918404944125952/video/1

 

BR: on @kierantierney1 "He never has a bad game. He’s at least 7 or 8 out of 10 every time he plays. He then goes into 9 and 10 out of 10 sometimes."

BR: "Off the back of the international break you know it’s going to be tough. @RCFCStaggies were very well organised. We knew it was going to be tough but we defended very well when we had to and a moment of magic won the game

BR: "You’ve seen before with @Leighgriff09 in those situation, he’s got a great ability to score. It was a very important goal and good for us to get the three points. It’s nice for the supporters as well, for them to be behind the goal and see it all the way through."

BR: "We had great support today and that really kept us going and driving us on. We’ll get back, recover from this and look forward to Paris on Wednesday."

 

Said he wants another RB in January who won’t be at the World Cup during the CL qualifiers. Maybe that Flanagan from Liverpool?

 

No.

 

He’s mentioned centre half as well, and said he wanted his defenders fit and available