Rodgers Showing Transfer Patience This Weekend | OneFootball

Brendan Rodgers has shown considerable calm and patience in regard to the club’s transfer activity this week. The Celtic boss was laid back on the subject of new signings, in his media conference ahead of the visit to Pittodrie this Sunday. His remarks are a stark contrast to his view on things last week, when he commented about a need to be able to convince the board that reinforcements are needed and explained that he wouldn’t remain at the club if the managerial role became about maintaining things rather than progressing.

When asked about transfer activity this week, Rodgers said: “I’ve got nothing new for you, no. It’s very clear what we need to improve and a lot of work is going on clearly by ourselves and probably every club. That’s the reality of this time of the year, there’s a lot of work going on throughout many clubs.

“I know the work that Paul Tisdale and his staff are putting in. So, yeah, we’re hoping that we can conclude some deals and improve the squad. As a football club, we will want to have the best available squad that we can to get through the season. I mentioned it before, I think a manager always wants it now, you know, to prepare the team as early as you can. But we know the window shuts by the end of August and, hopefully, by then everything is in place, we’re all stable and then ready to go.”

Speaking to Celtic TV, the Manager addressed delays in new signings, particularly of the marquee nature: “There’s obviously many things that go into it. I don’t do the deals, so I can’t answer that for you.

“But I know that behind the scenes, obviously, there’s a lot of work, there’s a lot of discussions that go on to conclude deals. I’m hopeful that come the end of this window, we will have those deals concluded and we get the players in who can help us go forward.

“I think the focus now at this moment for myself is to really make sure that the players who are here are in the best possible condition, best mindset to play the games and that’s where we’re at at this very moment.”

The most pressing need for new signings is the looming Champions League qualifier. Though the draw has been kind to Celtic, quality reinforcements give the team the best chance of progression and an opportunity for players to get bedded in before the group stage proper and crucial domestic clashes.

With that in mind, Brendan was asked if he expects new players to be in the door before the visit of either Slovan Bratislava or Kairat Almaty.

He replied: “I really don’t know. That’s my honest answer. We just have to keep working to look to get the players in and in the meantime work with the players who are here to make them the best that they can be.”