“The sun’s shining, these are real Celtic days, and that’s what we love,’ Brendan Rodgers

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The Celtic Star

·16 de mayo de 2025

“The sun’s shining, these are real Celtic days, and that’s what we love,’ Brendan Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers spoke to the media today ahead of the final Scottish Premiership match of the season at Celtic Park. It is of course Trophy Day when the Champions get their medals and Callum McGregor gets to hold the trophy high above his head before we all head up to Trongate and the Merchant City for some title winning celebrations!

Scottish Premiership. Wednesday 14 May 2025. Brendan Rodgers. Aberdeen 1-5 Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

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Here’s everything that Brendan Rodgers had to say at Lennoxtown this afternoon at his media conference… Q: How is the squad looking for this game tomorrow?

Brendan Rodgers: “Cam is back in, Ali was obviously in the squad (at Pittodrie), he’s fine, and Reo is out.”

Reo Hatate is visibly upset Aberdeen 1-5 Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Q: Have you got an update on Reo’s situation?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, he’ll miss the last two games, sadly for him and for us. He’s had a fantastic season in terms of availability, it’s 55 games he’s been involved in, and it’s just such a shame he’ll miss his last couple of games. You’re probably talking that he’ll be OK for the beginning of pre-season, but it’s just a shame for us and even more so for him that he misses these two games.”

Q: Especially given the circumstances of the challenge?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, I said at the time I thought it was a needless challenge. Everyone knew it was a free kick, and he’s just there to stop the ball from running way. For that to happen in that circumstance, it’s not nice.”

Celtic title celebrations 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Q: Looking ahead to the game tomorrow, how much do you look forward to these days? A sunny day at Celtic Park and a trophy to pick up at the end?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, it’s a great reward for the sacrifice that so many people have put in, especially the players over the course of the season. You get that at the end of the game, but the actual game is still targets we want to achieve. It should be an amazing day, the weather’s been incredible up here. We want to perform, we know it’s a tough game. We played St Mirren last season as well, and only won right at the end. But for this game here, we’ve got a real focus to continue with our performance level that we did the other night, and let’s see where it takes us at the end.”

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Adam Idah scores the winner for Celtic in the 2024 Scottish Cup Final against theRangers at Hampden. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

Q: There are so many factors to that in terms of giving the fans the performance that they want, making sure that you’re in good shape as well, going into the Scottish Cup final next weekend?

Brendan Rodgers: “In every single game, we’ve set out to entertain the supporters. That’s why they pay the hard-earned money. They work all week to come and have a level of joy watching the team play, and I think in the main the players have provided that this season. There’s been a real, real strong connection with the supporters and the players. You see the number of goals we’ve scored, and we haven’t given so much away. So yeah, it’s just a repeat of that, hopefully.”

A delighted Brendan Rodgers on trophy day, 2024

Q: How special are these days, Brendan, both for you personally, but for the squad, the club, the fans?

Brendan Rodgers: “You certainly never take it for granted, because there is so much work that goes into winning a league title over the course of a season. I think back to our work in pre-season, where we developed the idea, and then alongside the hard work and the values with which this team play with as well. It’s a very humble team, it’s very competitive, and it has a real togetherness about it as well. So to demonstrate that weekly and arrive on this day that you can share with the supporters, it’s a truly special day.

Q: How do you reflect on this league title that you’ve won and the challenges that you’ve faced throughout the season?

Brendan Rodgers: “It’s been very, very satisfying as a manager, I have to say. Our first day in pre-season, and right through the pre-season, I thought we set a really high benchmark, and we were able to continue with that. So we’re here to win, and win in the best possible way we can. So as a manager, to see that growth of the team from last year, and then to see how we’ve performed this season consistently, and playing some fantastic games. Like I said, we’ve stuck with the idea and structure of our team, because any good team is always made up of talent, a system and a real positive energy, and that’s what we’ve tried to demonstrate all season.”

Q: You mentioned those targets that you still want to hit in this last game. How important are they for you, and how much do you stress that to the players, that it’s sprinting over the line and showing why you’re holding up a lofted trophy at the end?

Brendan Rodgers: “I think as a player, as a person, you want to improve every single day of your life, and just because you have a piece of metal that you’ve won and achieved and worked very hard for, doesn’t mean you can’t improve on the other days. When we won the title at Dundee United, great. But I want us to still improve as a team and as individuals, and for that then you have to then bring a purpose to it, and the players have responded to that, and now we have more targets to hopefully see if we can achieve and go for, and do everything we can to do that.”

Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel applauds the fans at full-time. Celtic v Hibernian, 10 May 2025 Photo Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock

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Q: We’ve just spoken to Kasper Schmeichel, who said that almost the foundation for the success this season is all about the desire and the hard work. Do you think that’s something that maybe goes unnoticed when you’ve got a squad of so many talented players? As Kasper Schmeichel told us, you’ve worked harder than any other team in the league, and that’s why you’re Champions. Do you think that goes a bit unnoticed?

Brendan Rodgers: “Well, I think people who are in the know understand that anything worthwhile, you have to work hard for, and you have to sacrifice, and what we’ve been able to do is consistently do that. So the mentality in this team, the will in this team, and the will in the staff, because we drive that every single day here, and then you add that together with the talent, then of course you get the results, but those basic principles of will and desire, it’s had a real positive culture that we have here, and that all points to a team that allows you to win.”

Reo Hatate of Celtic celebrates after he scores his team’s third goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Hibernian FC at Celtic Park on May 10, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: Speaking about the improvements in the side that have been made over the last 12 months, what do you think are the key areas that you feel the team have really raised their game in?

Brendan Rodgers: “For me, the counter-pressing has been a bit different. It’s always been a part of my philosophy, and I think that as last season went on, that became better and better, and then we could hone in on that over the course of pre-season. So that, along with some of the slight structural tweaks that we make within the team, has given us that platform really to go and show our football, but our pressing has been really good this season, and that counter-pressing, because like I say, when you want to be the team of dominance, it’s not all about the skill, it’s not all about the talent, you have to get the ball back, and that’s always been our mantra. We have maybe 70 per cent of the ball, but the 30 per cent, you have to respect that, and that’s what allows you to have the ball so much, and then from there, we’re very clear on how we play.”

Scottish Premiership. Wednesday 14 May 2025. James Forrest. Aberdeen 1-5 Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Q: James Forrest is going to bring the trophy and present it to his teammates. How nice a moment will that be for him?

Brendan Rodgers: “It’s great for him. I think he’s long overdue, all the accolades he’s receiving this season, and I’ve seen him the other night, he’s 33 years of age, but he’s still strong on his legs, strong on his running, and he’s always had the quality. So, it’ll be a really lovely touch by the club for him to do that with his family.”

Q: Is he going to hit penalties and free kicks, the lot, to score that goal?

Brendan Rodgers: “I think it’s everything. He was so unlucky, the keeper made a really good save the other night, when he cut inside off his left foot. The one in the second half, he’s dragged the first one in the first half, but he’s always a goal threat, James. He’ll always be there. So, I’m pretty sure over the next couple of games he’ll get the goal, but if he doesn’t, he’s still a wonderful player.”

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Adam Idah and James Forrest celebrates. Aberdeen 1-5 Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Q: It seems to be a really good atmosphere around the club, not just at the moment, as the trophies are getting handed out, but I’d say across the season, from the fans to the players, there’s a real connection there. In terms of yourself, is this maybe the happiest you’ve been because of your two spells?

Brendan Rodgers: “There’s no doubt, it’s been the most satisfying. When I came back, it was always a privilege to manage the club. Then, going away, I realised partly what I missed when I was away. So, coming back, I was going to enjoy every single moment of it. Last season didn’t start so well, but then I tested it as a coach and a manager, especially when the pressure came on in the last period of the season. So, we came through that well and coped with that.

Nicolas Kuhn. Aberdeen 1-5 Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

“In this season, we’ve been so consistent. I’ve really enjoyed watching the team, seeing them every day. Like I said, some of the values here that we have within this club and seeing the humility and how hard the guys work, how much they want to win and also how they’ve got over setbacks this season. So, for me, it’s been a great season for us. The Champions League was a big one, and not for me. I think as a club, we wanted to… of course, as a coach, you want to work at the highest level, but we as a club, we wanted to be sure that we can be competitive at that level and I believe we did that.

Johnny Kenny celebrates. Aberdeen 1-5 Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

“So, you add that to what we’re doing domestically, then, naturally, it feels good. Now, we’re going to get to this part of the season. It’s always an exciting time, I know. The sun’s shining, these are real Celtic days, and that’s what we love.”

Q: Just to ask you a quick question, your message for fans, I think there was a bit of talk about post-match celebrations in the City Centre after the match tomorrow night. You want fans to celebrate, but celebrate safely. Do you have a message to your supporters?

Brendan Rodgers: .”No, exactly. Come to Celtic Park tomorrow, and have an amazing day. We’re going to try and finish off the league campaign in a really good way. Enjoy it. That’s why supporters work hard all year round to pay for their season tickets and come and watch their team and then celebrate, and as always, celebrate safely. I’m sure the Celtic supporters will do that.”

Scottish Premiership. Wednesday 14 May 2025. The Celtic support. Aberdeen 1-5 Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

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