Brendan Rodgers Discussion Thread

Not so worried about Johnston as I think he is one that really buzzes off the atmosphere, type of football and culture of the club & fans. Obviously depends who comes in for him but can't see him going to a non-CL team from us tbh.

Agree about LB, could become a real issue for the CL qualifiers, but without wanting to rely on youngsters I do think Frame & Anderson should be seriously looked at again in pre-season rather than blocking their potential pathway buying another LB in Jan.

 

Think both Frame and Anderson will need loans at a higher level before we can really evaluate..

Think Johnston does love it here, but has all the attributes to be an EPL player and if there's an offer that's right.. he'll be off..

 

Agree on Johnston..

If Anderson got a move to a top flight club in our league (easily could and should've in my opinion) then he could've been a viable option and backup option to a first team left back we'll likely bring in..

Would be that homegrown option for Taylor who I think will go..

That poor loan has killed him and us a bit as as good as he did in Austria last year and looked in pre season, going back to the Austrian second tier at his age....was a diabolical decision on our part. It's too big a jump to gauge if he'd be ready for a run of games for us..

Frame has silly potential but no ready yet. Needs a top flight loan rapid..

 

Maybe I'm basing my opinion on the fact Tierney was thrown in and found his feet and that's clouding my judgement on them both but for me I always think the only true way to see if a player can make it here (youth or otherwise) is give them a run. Something we've not done enough of either tbh. They both performed well when given that chance so I'd be intrigued to see if either can rise to that challenge.

With the rest of the team as settled and strong as it is we could afford to give them the opportunity come summertime imo.

 

Brendan Rodgers has been named as the Scottish Premiership Glen’s Manager of the Month for the second time this season after continuing the club’s undefeated run in November.

Celtic picked up a full nine points in the month after securing away victories over Kilmarnock (2-0) and Heart of Midlothian (4-1) before finishing the month with a 5-0 home win against Ross County.

With 13 wins, one draw and no losses so far this season, the Hoops are at the top of the league table, seven points ahead of second-placed Aberdeen, and with a game in hand over their nearest rivals.

Brendan Rodgers said: “I am delighted to accept this award again on behalf of our whole team and staff.

'It is a tribute to the consistency which we have shown during the month with some terrific performances leading to such positive results.'

“What’s notable for me is the real collective effort we have shown right across the squad, with so many players rising to the challenges we have faced, particularly at some very difficult venues and, particularly this week, in some really tough conditions.

“It’s important I recognise our supporters, too, who have been hugely important on this journey with us. Now we keep on going, focus on what lies ahead as we face another very challenging period.”

Colin Matthews, CEO of Glen’s owner the Loch Lomond Group, said: “Brendan Rodgers has shown impressive leadership and consistency throughout the 2024/25 season, driving Celtic to maintain a strong performance on the field which has led to another string of well-deserved results in November.

“His ability to inspire his team and deliver results represents the spirit we celebrate with the Glen’s Manager of the Month award, so my congratulations go to Brendan and everyone involved at Celtic Park. We look forward to seeing this momentum continue in the second half of the season.”

 

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers hopes SPFL disciplinary charges will bring about the end of pyrotechnics in Scottish football.

The league body charged Celtic, Motherwell and Rangers with breaking the rules after fans let off flares during the Premier Sports semi-finals and caused both games at Hampden to be delayed.

Rodgers says the pyrotechnics threaten the safety of supporters, but also the wellbeing of players, and is optimistic that the unprecedented move from the SPFL can be effective.

“My reaction is exactly the same as what it is when I see it at any other ground or any team,” the Celtic manager said.

“The safety is of paramount importance, I think, firstly for the people in the stand.

“I always worry about people that are in and around that area when they’re going off.

“When you’re young, sometimes you don’t see the dangers, you don’t see or think of other people, but that’s a concern for me, for supporters, especially our own supporters when they’re there




The manager also believes that the supporters using flares are unaware of the effect their actions might have on players, with unexpected delays increasing the chance of injury.

“My concern is also with the players,” Rodgers said. “Because when you’re preparing for a game of football, it’s detailed, your preparation is to the second, so that you’re ready and ready to go whenever the kick-off is ready to start.

“And I think we were 14 minutes delayed in that semi-final. That can be the cause of someone getting injured, especially when it’s at this time of the year.

“You prepare, your detail is there, you go to start the game but you can’t. You’re standing about, you’re waiting, so all that preparation that you put in, the body’s cold again and the muscles are at risk.

“So these are the little things that maybe you would never think about when you’re holding the flare or sticking something up in the air. But I just think that the safety element of it for supporters and players is paramount.

“It’s not just Celtic, the message and notion is for every club.”

Friday’s action is the first time the SPFL have taken action over pyrotechnics and Rodgers gave the organisation his full backing. He said that Celtic fans are already famed for the atmosphere they provide in big games, and there’s no need for flares.

“I don’t see what it adds to the game, so I think it’s right that they look into it and try to stop it hopefully,” he said.

“I suppose the hope is that this may be the first but hopefully the last when it comes to the league as well and the fans do listen.

“I think across the board the league have the possibility then to create a sanction that ensures that hopefully it doesn’t happen. Because of the Celtic support, what we get without all of that is absolutely amazing.



The colour, the noise, the energy, what it gives us on the field is absolutely amazing. So the pyro doesn’t add anything, it doesn’t add anything. We get this amazing support, it’s renowned worldwide, our support base is iconic.

“Everyone wants to play at Celtic Park, everyone wants to be here, why? Because of the supporters, so we want to keep it that way and hopefully, as I said, the league domestically can do something as well



On the pitch, Celtic have been in strong form and their success in winning all three of their league games in November has led to Rodgers being named as Glen’s Premiership Manager of the Month.

“It’s a real collective effort by everyone”, he said.

“The team has performed fantastically well, and the staff have been really supportive.”

The manager pointed to Wednesday night’s important away win at Aberdeen as another example of the team finding a way to get the result they need. He hopes it will stand them in good stead ahead of a week when they face Hibs in the league, Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League, and then Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup final.

“I think what’s been so pleasing over the course of the season has been the variety of ways in which we can win,” Rodgers said. “That’s always important.

“Our ethos here, and our style, is always to pay fast, aggressive, attacking football and always with tactical discipline.

“So that’s our idea and you’ll have seen numbers of games this season with that identity of the team


But you also have to understand that other teams are going to make it difficult for you, like Aberdeen who have done really well this season.

“They were compact and tight and break the game up so you don’t have your flow. You then have to persist in your work, trust the possession and the speed of your game, in horrendous weather conditions.

“Then you look for those moments and that’s what we did.

“So over the course of the season that’s been the real pleasing aspect of our victories. None better to demonstrate it than the game the other night

 

Brendan, you’re the Manager of the Month for November, your thoughts?

Well, a real collective effort by everyone, so the team has performed fantastically well, and all the staff have been really supportive, so yeah, on to the next game.




Alistair (Johnston) was in earlier saying that the game at Aberdeen the other night is the kind of game that does win you titles because you had to dig deep. Could you go along with that?

Well, I think that what has been so pleasing over the course of the season has been the variety of ways in which we can win. I think that's always important as a team. I think our ethos here and our idea and our style is always to play fast, aggressive attacking football, always with technical discipline.

So that's our idea and you'll have seen numbers of games this season where we've seen that identity of the team. But you also have to respect that other teams aren't going to allow you to do that all the time and they're going to come and make it difficult for you. Like Aberdeen, who have done really well this season. They were really compact, and tight, they broke the game up, so you don't quite have your flow. So you then have to still persist in your work, trust your possession, trust the speed of your game in horrendous weather conditions and then look for those moments, which may only be few and far between. But you have to try to find them and that's what we've done.

So I think over the course of the season, that's been the real pleasing aspect of our victories and wins and none better than, like you say, the game the other night to demonstrate that



The SPFL today, charged Celtic, Motherwell and Rangers with the pyrotechnics at the League Cup semi-final. What's your reaction to that?

My reaction is exactly the same as what it is when I see it at any other ground or any team. The safety is of paramount importance, I think, for firstly the people down the stand. I always worry about people that are in and around that area when they're going off.

When you're young, sometimes you don't see the dangers, you don't see or think of other people, but that's a concern for me, for supporters, especially our own supporters when they're there. And then my concern is also within the players, because when you're preparing for a game, football, it's detailed, your preparation to the second so that you're ready and ready to go whenever the kick-off is ready to start. And I think we were 14 minutes delay in that semi-final. That can be the cause of someone getting injured, especially when it's at this time of the year. You prepare, your details are there, you go to start the game but you can't, you're standing about, you're waiting, so all that preparation that you put in, the body's cold again and the muscles are at risk.

So these are the little things that maybe you would never think about when you're holding the flare or sticking something up in the air. But I just think that the safety element of it for supporters and players is paramount. So it's not just Celtic, the message and notion are for every club.


There have been new charges for this football, but this is the first time the SPFL have acted, does that surprise you?

It's not a surprise, I just think it's something that should be done. I don't see what it adds to the game, so I think it's right that they look into it and try to stop it hopefully



The away fans in Europe have sort of heeded the warning from the last time when it was in danger of a fan closure or whatnot. I suppose the hope is that this may be the first but hopefully the last when it comes to the league as well and the fans do listen. Because there's also a monetary value as well, maybe a fine coming or whatnot and these will add up, don't they?

Yeah absolutely, but I think across the board the league has the possibility then to create a sanction that ensures that hopefully, it doesn't happen. Because the Celtic support, what we get without all of that is absolutely amazing.

The colour, the noise, the energy, what it gives us on the field is absolutely amazing. So the pyro doesn't add anything, it doesn't add anything. We get this amazing support, it's renowned worldwide, our support base is iconic. Everyone wants to play at Celtic Park, everyone wants to be here, why? Because of the supporters, so we want to keep it that way and hopefully, as I said, the league domestically can do something as well.


Back on the field, a huge week, three massive games, just how excited are you in the squad for what could be a real season-defining week if all things go well?

Well, the focus is tomorrow, I think that was clearly on the mind after Aberdeen. Get back, recover and then look to bring our game and be really proactive in the game tomorrow. So I'm looking forward to it, we love playing at home, we love the energy. Our last home game, we were absolutely brilliant. Our idea is to bring a similar game and that's something I'm excited about.



What do you make of the job that David Gray has done? He seemed to turn that around after quite a difficult spell in charge at Hibs.

Yeah, well I'm delighted for David, you get that first win. When you're young as a manager and you're into the sleepless nights and you're thinking of everything. I think they've been unfortunate in some games where they haven't picked up the result earlier. But obviously, the point that they got against Aberdeen will have helped confidence to come back later on. And then to get that victory against Motherwell, it certainly makes the food taste nicer on a Saturday night.

So yeah, I'm happy for him that he gets the win and he will look to obviously build on that. It's a big club Hibs, they expect to be up-challenging at the top. And like I said, David's the perfect guy to help them get there. It's just sometimes it takes that little bit of time to get going.


Does the point cushion to second place now give you a chance to utilise the full squad? Or maybe wrestling players over the weekend that you might start in Europe or the cup final next week?

Not really, we were doing that anyway. So I think for me, it's just about obviously using the squad. I have total trust in the group of players to play. So whatever team will send out for tomorrow is out to attack the game




Has it been tough to make them focus on this one without looking too far ahead?

Not really. Listen, I'm not going to sit here and say you don't think ahead. Of course you do, that's the nature of my job. I have to plan forward, of course. But always, you have to look to the next game as your priority. You need to understand what it is you're thinking about for playing the Zagreb game like I was when we had Ross County, but we had Aberdeen. So you have to plan forward.

But that's an exciting part of the job. It's absolutely brilliant. I've got a great group of players that are hungry, that are ambitious, and they all want to play, which is great. If they don't, they respect whoever's playing, they look after their colleagues and then we're all in to get the result.



And in terms of squad health then, in terms of this weekend, have you got any knocks or is anyone struggling at all?

No, we're all good. We're in a really, really good place. And I think that is also part of the rotation. I think what enables us to do that, that sometimes if you don't have the knock-on effect if you don't have the depth of squad and the strength in your squad, you're maybe having to play players for 90 plus minutes, three times a week, playing them all the time, which is then you have a greater risk of injury.

What we've been able to do is manage the minutes of the players. And where there has been maybe a little niggle, we can then take someone out. Or if someone has played a lot more minutes, then we have that possibility to take them out. That's the benefit of having a depth of squad. So I've really enjoyed that aspect of it, picking the teams to put out and giving that opportunity for someone to have some breathing space. It also can depend on the game that you're playing and what it is you want from the game. That will decide who plays also



Can I just ask you a wee bit about the Champions League? Do you think it's fair that we've spoken about strict liability in this country for a year now, and the SPFL have always told us that's unmanageable and it won't work? Is it fair that the clubs are the ones who are being punished when the game is at Hampden and there's little that the club can do, do you hope that it registers with the fans that it's the club that suffers when you do that to us?

It's a wee bit of both, but I think ultimately it comes from the federation. For me, that's where the sanctions should really come from. I haven't actually looked into the real depths of it. I obviously get the headline, and I see a little bit of it and I think that seems logical and common sense. But I think if you have your league and the responsibility with your league, what can your federation do to govern the game and make it as safe and enjoyable as we possibly can? I know that's sometimes a wee bit of a challenge up here.

Sometimes I look at some of the things that we do. We must have the richest league in the world up here because I see stands that are empty. So clubs must be full of money that they don't need the people in the grounds and the stadium. But we can only hope that that side of it, the pyro side, that we can take that away from the games and let it be a safe place because the passion up here for football is amazing.

You actually don't need them to create the atmosphere up here. It's absolutely incredible. Supporters are passionate. They love the game. They love the football. Let them go and be safe and watch it.



Can I ask you about Kasper and his influence on the team, especially on a tricky night?

He's been massive for us. Like I say, a game like that, they're the night. It's where his style of work fits in - his style and that's where it comes into play - those pressure moments. The ball goes back, especially in conditions like that there. Goalkeepers or some might not be as comfortable. So they then can end up just defending it and going long too early. And then it comes right back at you. But he brings the calmness.

As I said, I've worked with him a long time. I know his quality. He's a world-class shot-stopper. He's great with his feet. His authority in the game is superb. Like you say, his handling is so clean. So he's been massive for us. Just his whole presence and personality. I'm really happy for him.



I know he's got the option to make sure he's winning next season. Do you feel he can keep going?

Yeah, that has always been his ambition. I first met him back in 2019 in Leicester. His hunger and drive and desire. He's like a young guy, 15 years younger than what he is. He has so much enthusiasm for the game and so much enthusiasm for goalkeeping as well. To throw himself about like he does every single day. I really have a big respect for him.

He's obviously got his own personal targets in terms of if he can get a World Cup, which he will hope to be at. But I just know that he's loved his life here. He's enjoyed his life. Thankfully, he's performing at a very high level for us.




How pleased were you for Cameron Carter-Vickers as well, coming up with that massive moment in that game – after probably his first mistake in the Brugge game? It was such a high-profile thing – him showing that desire to produce that moment?

Yeah, I said to him - he and Auston set that up quite well! They made themselves look heroic!

He's a brilliant player for us. He's got such authority in the game. Firstly, he's defending. He's defending strong. He's good in duels. He reads the game. He's brave. You go to war with him, he's such a strong character. Mentally tough. But then he can play. He can play football. He can pass. He knows these lines of pass. He organises the line well. He's a big, big player for us. As you say, when you see it back, he's anticipated and reacted to Auston's touch and just gets an absolutely critical block on it. That's what you get from your big players, big moments.

 

Thought his comments regarding the abysmal attendances around the country were spot on, it's an utter embarrassment.

 

Can't see it in the above reports mate. What did he say?

 

Brendan Rodgers is mystified by the approach of clubs who have slashed Celtic's away ticket allocation, joking that the Scottish Premiership 'must be the richest league in the world'.

The size of ticket allocations for both Celtic and Rangers has become a bone of contention in recent years, with various clubs reducing the number of briefs they sell to the Old Firm clubs in an effort to increase their home support.


That has caused anger among Celtic and Rangers fans though, who feel aggrieved at missing out on the chance to attend away matches when there are often large swathes of empty seats in the home section.

Rodgers - while addressing SPFL charges levelled against Celtic for their supporters' use of pyrotechnics - couldn't resist the opportunity to raise the issue, saying that while the action taken against the use of pyro was 'common sense', the various reductions in Celtic's away allocations were anything but.

"I think if you have your league and the responsibility with your league, what can your federation do to govern the game and make it as safe and enjoyable as we possibly can?" Rodgers said.

I know that's sometimes a wee bit of a challenge up here. Sometimes I look at some of the things that we do. We must have the richest league in the world up here because I see stands that are empty. So clubs must be full of money that they don't need the people in the grounds and the stadium.

“But we can only hope that that side of it, the pyro side, that we can take that away from the games and let it be a safe place because the passion up here for football is amazing. You actually don't need them to create the atmosphere up here. It's absolutely incredible.

“Supporters are passionate. They love the game. They love the football.

“Let them go and be safe and watching it.”

 

Basically said other teams must be very rich to afford so many empty seats at games and to limit away allocations.

I get why the likes of Hearts, St Mirren and Aberdeen do it, they typically sell out, but the likes of Hibs, St Johnstone and Motherwell doing it must surely hurt their finances, they always have tons of empty seats.

 

Tynecastle had plenty of empty seats.

 

Plenty empty seats at Tynecastle. That clubs support is a myth.

 

Good to hear nothing up with Kuhn.

 

BRENDAN Rodgers tonight admitted Celtic will get punished by Dinamo Zagreb in their Champions League match in Croatia on Tuesday evening if they give away as many chances as they did in their 3-0 win over Hibernian.


The Scottish champions increased their lead over Aberdeen at the top of the William Hill Premiership table to nine points thanks to an Arne Engels strike, a Joe Newell own goal and a Kyogo Furuhashi effort at Parkhead this afternoon.

But the visitors created several scoring opportunities early on and the final outcome could have been different if Mykola Kukharevych and Newell had shown greater composure in the final third.

Rodgers, whose keeper Kasper Schmeichel was named Man of the Match at the end of the 90 minutes, attributed the below par defensive performance to the five changes which he made to his starting line-up.

However, the Northern Irishman confessed that his side were far from their best at the back and acknowledged they will have to do better in their league phase encounter with Zagreb in the Maksimir Stadium in midweek to get the result they want.




I was delighted with the win,” he said. “It was our third game this week and in midweek we had a tough game away from home. So to come here and get the victory and keep a clean sheet was great. Our attack and general play was very good.

“But defensively, for our standard, we were nowhere near it. It was not the level that I would expect and want. Sometimes that's part of it when you do make the changes so that's on me. But that defensive side, which is our start point, wasn't so good in the first half.”

Rodgers added: “It was much better in the second half. We controlled the game, upped it to a level. Our third goal comes from a counter-press from James [Forrest]. He blindsides the press and that's more like how we've been.

“We were losing too many balls on the right side. So in order to push them back, you've got to retain the ball. James [who replaced Nicolas Kuhn at half-time] is probably the best player I've ever worked with in my career at retaining the ball on the side.

“People will look at it and say, ‘It's because of maturity’. No, he did that I was here in 2016. He is the best player at receiving the ball on the side of the pitch when it's tight, left side or right side. Then that allows you to sustain the attack. Too often we gave it away in the first half.”

Asked if Celtic would be punished if they give Zagreb the same number of chances on Tuesday night, he said, “Yeah, there are always things to improve on our performance. If you watch us through the season, you see we haven't been like that. It's not been the case. The main principle for me always to begin with is pressing.

“That's why we've only conceded the low number of goals that we have. But if you're just that little bit late to the press, you're not quite there or in the duel, and you lose out then teams can hurt you. So we've seen that more in the first half than the second.”

Celtic have a massive week ahead of them – they play Zagreb in the Champions League on Tuesday night and then they take on Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup final at Hampden on Sunday.

But Rodgers, whose charges have now gone 30 games undefeated domestically in all competitions, is looking forward to the challenges which lie ahead after seeing his men increase their Premiership lead from four to nine points in the space of four days.

“It's part of the process here,” he said. “To get through today was a big win. You see the energy of Hibs in the game, the running power they had and how hard we had to work for that. As I said, we had a tough game in midweek.

“So now we recover and the opportunity is fantastic for us. We're really excited by. We've got three games left in the competition and we know what we want to achieve. So I'm really excited.

“We'll be able to recover players. So, we'll have a freshness to our game also. And we know that at this level we can be really competitive. So, I'm really looking forward to it.

“The lead in the league is irrelevant in December, but it's still nice. Again, we just keep chipping away. The squad and the team are in a really, really good place. We keep our standard of performance. It's something that we always look at and drive at.”

 

Brendan really has a beautiful smile

 

Confident Brendan Rodgers has no doubt Celtic are ready to win again away in the Champions League.

The Parkhead boss was in charge the last time the club succeeded on the road in this stage of Europe’s elite competition when sinking Anderlecht in 2017. And Rodgers is convinced his current crop are now geared up to repeat the feat against Dinamo Zagreb


The Celtic boss is sure his squad can emulate the Belgian triumph of seven years ago in the Maksimir Stadium. Rodgers said: “I don’t think there’s any doubt. Working with this group now and this team over the last 15, 16 months, whatever it is, I feel that we’re in a really, really good place and I know we can arrive into these games now having made some big performances that we feel can get us big results at the level.


So, yeah, having won in Anderlecht, that was a great night for the team and the support. We would like to give ourselves the best opportunity we can and to do that is to look to win our next game and it’s away from home. So, we want to take that chance to do that.”



When it was put to Rodgers that winning away is the next big box to tick, Rodgers said: “Yeah, I think so. It’s one where, from last year, we’ve been building towards performance levels and results and this year we’ve been fairly consistent with that in the main. To win away from home (would be great), because you know what it means to supporters as well as the points and you know that an away win at any level, but in particular in the Champions League, is a difficult challenge. But it’s one that gives a real good feeling.

“So, for us, it’s the next step. You go to Atalanta and you defend how we did there, that gives you a big confidence to know that you can go into any stadium and defend well.


We hope that we can then bring our attack into the game alongside that and we know that when we do that it gives us an opportunity to get that win. You know what it takes to do it.”



As well as that point secured a point from their previous away game against Atalanta in Bergamo, Celtic have secured seven more at home to push themselves to the brink of the play-offs. The boss is seeing the progression as he explained: “Yeah, it’s collectively. At this level you need big performances.

“That is what gains you the confidence. I take it back to last year and I saw enough there to feel that we could improve. We have improved, but we have improved as a collective because a club like ourselves at this level, it really is about the team.


We’ve had some big performances in this campaign which gives us that confidence but we also showed importantly that we could come from a setback which was quite a big setback and that as a coach and a manager gives you great faith and hope in the players that you have.


“So, from that moment, the players have been brilliant. How they’ve performed, how they’ve played and we know that home and away we can be a really, really difficult team to play against and that’s our idea.

“To make it really difficult to play against when we have the ball and when we haven’t got the ball.”


Rodgers, meanwhile, insists all focus is on Zagreb. Asked by a local reporter if Zagreb or the Premier Sports Cup Final was a more important game, he stated: “Oh, every game. Every single game is so important as a Celtic player and manager and that’s why and what we prepare for every single day


“So we haven’t even thought about the Rangers game yet. No, we were very much focused on our game at the weekend.

“Straight away after that game we now really focus on this game because one thing that you can make the mistake of in football is that you can think of more than one thing and for me, I’m really focused and intensely on this game.

“So that’s our focus. The minute it finishes, we can then get ready. We’ve got enough time to prepare and be ready for Sunday and that is clearly a massive game for us but tomorrow night is huge also.”