Brendan Fraudgers!

BRENDAN RODGERS will not spend Celtic’s Champions League money on a big-name player during this transfer window if his side qualify for the group stages in Israel on Tuesday.

A 5-2 first-leg lead should be enough for Scotland’s only representatives in Europe to get past Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the return and that would guarantee the best part of £20million coming into the club’s coffers.

Rodgers would have significant funds to spend even things go wrong in midweek; however, if he can guide Celtic past this play-off round, he then would be able to push the boat out on what he described as a marquee signing in a bid to improve the squad and also standing of the club.

German World Cup winner Bastian Schweinsteiger has been linked with what would be an astounding move to Glasgow and there will be some supporters hoping to see a famous face walk through the doors at Celtic Park over the coming weeks.

But when Rodgers was asked whether he would go for a high profile star if Celtic have Champions League football over the next few months, the Irishman played down the need for such an acquisition, especially is said star wasn’t able to fit into his team.

He said: “I’m not worried whether there is or isn’t, I just need the best player. It doesn’t have to be a marquee signing. I think we have brought in some really top talents who have come in and excited the supporters. I don’t need a marquee signing that can’t run.

“I can get you a marquee signing but they’ve got to be able to press and they’ve got to be able to run. For me it’s never been about the name. But, of course, if the name is big and he can play, then great, but for me it’s about having the right profile of player who can come in.

“No matter the age they have to be hungry in every single game and every training session, and that’s what I always look for.”

Celtic, and Rangers before liquidation, were stung previously when a player with a good reputation but well past their best moved north looking for nothing more than a final pay-day.

Rodgers is more interested in whether a new signing, and he hopes to add two more before the window shuts, can adapt to his all-action style of play than selling more jerseys at the club shop.

The Celtic manager said: “This is a team that you have to be able to run in. You have to be athletic, you have to be able to press. You can’t run forward if you can’t run back, that’s one of my rules for a team. Don’t run forward if you can’t run back.

“The athleticism the mobility the hunger the intensity has to be there and they have to be leading their life right. If that’s a big name, great, and if we can do it, great, but if not we just get the best possible player that we can.

“Players are more receptive to a Champions League club. The market explodes doesn’t it, the whole thing explodes when you make the Champions League. But we have to get there first. That’s our message.

“We’ve put ourselves in a brilliant position if you look across Europe at the scores in the Champions League or the Europa League and we are in a great position. But we are focused. If we can get through there will be a bit of work to do between then and when the market shuts.”

Celtic beat St Johnstone 4-2 on Saturday and while the team still requires work, the Celtic supporters have enjoyed what they have seen so far.

Rodgers has been surprised at the challenged which he faced in his first few months in the job and will be glad to get out of Israel on Tuesday night with the one of the most difficult tests he will ever have at the club out of the way.

He said: “It’s the hardest pre-season I’ve ever done. No question about that. I take my hat off to the guys who have been here before me and who have gone through it.

“I spoke to Martin O’Neill, I spoke to Neil Lennon, just for a general chat, and the word I took away from it was ‘dangerous’ and I know exactly what they mean. I saw Lenny quoted that it was ‘awful’ the other day.

“It’s a very dangerous period because the demand physically and mentally at this stage of the season is unique. Especially when you know what it can do for the country, not just the club, you are taking on responsibility for a nation to empower that and to help that.

“It’s tough but hopefully the rewards are there for you. We still have a bit of work to do but we have made great strides over the course of pre-season and the beauty of this group is that they are only going to get better and better as we roll out the concepts of how we want to play.”
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport..._to_splash_Celtic__39_s_Champions_League_cash

 

8 games, 6 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss. 75% win ratio.

23 goals scored, 8 goals conceded.

Our matches thus far had averaged 3.8 goals per match.

Certainly hasn't been boring, very enjoyable.

 

BR: "It has been a real good week in terms of performance and results.


BR: "Every game is different. In a great position. Really focused on the challenge for tomorrow.


BR: "Everything in place in terms of ideas and players are ready.


BR on 5-2 advantage: "If you analyse and look at a lot of our games, it’s been pleasing that we’ve been scoring early.


BR: "I said the hallmark of the team would be starting games quickly and scoring but we have also scored late goals.


BR: "We're not perfect by any means but have resilience and mentality to keep going. That has been pleasing.


BR: "Players have worked hard to have that as part of their make-up.


BR on trip for the game: "Trip has been great. Trained yesterday morning. Beautiful flight out.


BR: "People have been great, hotel fantastic. Looking forward to the training session.



BR: "Players are relaxed but focused and can’t wait for the game tomorrow." #UCL

BR on prospect of reaching @ChampionsLeague group stages: "I’d be delighted.




BR: "It has been our no.1 objective from when we started. Spoke about it as a team and a squad."

BR: "Leading us there would be huge honour. Managers I spoke to before said it was difficult.


BR: "Put in an awful lot of work and we have one hand on the prize and a tight grip on it.


BR: "Need to maintain that grip then the supporters and people can be proud. Still got work to do.

 

He's from a part of Ireland that has a Scottish twang to the accent - North Antrim.

 

BRENDAN Rodgers knows his team have one foot in the door that leads to the UEFA Champions League group stages but the Celtic manager has warned that the real hard work is still ahead.
The Hoops head into tomorrow’s second-leg play-off tie with Hapoel Be’er Sheva with a three-goal advantage after last week’s thrilling 5-2 victory at Paradise but the boss of the Bhoys said his team must respect their opponents, who he knows will have to go for it in the opening stages of tomorrow’s match.
“We did the job in the first-leg and the responsibility is now with us and that’s how you would want it,” he said.
“You see a lot of the games across Europe which will be tough and tight but there’s a three goal-difference in this game. It will still be a tough game for us but thankfully it’s our responsibility.
"We worked very hard in the last game and the quality of our game has got us into this position so that gives us great confidence. We will always respect our opponents but we know we’re in a good moment."
Reaching the group stages would be a landmark moment for Brendan Rodgers, who has only been in charge of the club since late May this year.
However, he said that the real sense of satisfaction would be for the players and supporters, who have waited much longer to return to the top table in continental club competition.
“It has been our No.1 objective from the first day we started," he said on qualifying for the group stages. "We spoke about it as a team and a squad. We looked at various goals and targets throughout the season and to make the Champions League was clearly one of those as it was one of the first that would come across us.
“So to lead Celtic into the Champions League would be a great honour and privilege. I know the managers before me I spoke to said their first qualifying campaign was difficult for them but for us we have put in an awful lot of work and we have two hands on the prize and a tight grip on it as well.
“We need to make sure we maintain that grip and hopefully then the supporters and people can be proud but we still know there’s a bit of work to do.”

 

[ame]http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FTLzjROGQnE[/ame]

 

yesterday's press conference

https://vimeo.com/179875948

 

I noticed he said, "We're in a good moment".

When did this bizarre phrase enter the world of football, and why? I've heard it a few times over the last few years.

 

Used to hear the foreign managers saying that all the time. Rafa Benitez etc. I assumed it was just a bit of a mistranslation.

 

Aye and I remember Lampard said it once and everyone just started using it. So irritating. :smiley-laughing002:

 

Love hearing his enthusiasm especially when that zoomer is trying to get him to say he's feeling the pressure :icon_mrgreen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyoK6QtMfKs

 

Rodgers says it regularly. It's a strange phrase.

 

Already better than Deila but * knows why he left Janko on

 

I'm not saying I don't trust the guy I just think at times his decision making (or lack of) is frightening. There's been a few occasions where it just seems so blindingly obvious what the problem is but he doesn't seem to act on it, he's playing with fire.

 

Don't think you can fault his decision making, his decisions late in games is what's got us here in the end.

He's not a manager who puts much emphasis on defense, and it's showing already. The way the full backs are getting exposed is criminal. 9 conceded in the last 6 games.

Delighted to get through and with Rodgers, folk don't like seeing him criticized, but there's aspects that need to be questioned.

 

Really didn't like the formation he laid out today, and his substitutions were extremely questionable. He has been in point with almost all his sub's in every game we've playd until tonight. How Janko was able to start, let alone stay on is beyond me.