“I want Celtic to live in the best possible place they can be,” Brendan Rodgers

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The Celtic Star

·19 agosto 2025

“I want Celtic to live in the best possible place they can be,” Brendan Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers faced the media at Celtic Park this afternoon ahead of the first leg of the Champions League playoff against Kairat Almaty. With a deadline this evening for the club being able to amend the squad by adding a new signing – and one dropping out to create the space – there was nothing particularly positive for the manager to report.

Jamie Vardy of Leicester City celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on January 26, 2025. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

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He was asked straight away by the hacks about Jamie Vardy and Brendan refused to discuss players who have been linked to Celtic, although a few week back he did indeed confirm that there was no truth in reports that he was interested in bringing Odsonne Edouard back to Celtic.

Odsonne Edouard of Celtic celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Premiership match between Celtic and Livingston at Celtic Park on November 23, 2019. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“Listen I would not speak about any individual player. Of course, I’ve worked really well with Jamie. He was brilliant for me in my time at Leicester. But no, there’s been so many names floated about. But I wouldn’t disclose anyone,” Brendan said. Make of that what you will.

The Celtic manager is prepared to go with what he’s got in the building and believes that is sufficient to see their way through the tie to reach the Champions League Group stages. However he was clear that the squad will need quality additions ahead of the transfer window if Celtic is going to be able to compete at that level – to be clear his is sure that what he already has in terms of players in the squad is NOT enough for Celtic to compete at Champions League level.

Brendan Rodgers, Manager of Celtic, waves as he arrives at the stadium prior to the Premier Sports League Cup match between Celtic and Falkirk at Celtic Park on August 15, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Well, I think firstly, we want to qualify, of course. And if it’s with this group of players, I’m confident that we can do that,” Brendan said. “Going forward, listen, it’s clear we would have to improve the squad.”

He added: “No, listen, I’m experienced. I’ve been here long enough, and I understand where we’re at. So I’m not going to get too frustrated about it, because I can’t really control a lot of it.

“But what I can control is the players that we have, helping them be the very best that they can be, and making sure that they’re prepared, and making sure that they’re ready.

“Those players there just now have given me absolutely everything. So, I’m not going to get into a situation where I look frustrated or am frustrated, because that transfers onto the players that I have. And those guys, these boys have been brilliant.

“So, we’re hoping that if we get somebody in or not, it’ll be great. If not, then we’ll go with what we’ve got. We’ll do everything we can, and try to ensure all the details are right for the game. And then, see if we can take Celtic back into the Champions League again, which is ultimately what we want to do.

“You’re a little bit more philosophical about it. It’s so important because that emotional transfer can get through with players. There’s even more noise now around the game, not just Celtic, but around the game. But it is very much experience that helps you massively, of course.

Michael Nicholson, Chief Executive of Celtic FC looks on from the stands prior to the William Hill Premiership match between Celtic FC and St Mirren FC at Celtic Park on May 17, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“It’s understanding. I’ve been doing this for quite a while now. You can control what you can in the squad of players that you have. Of course, we need to push. I said it before, I want Celtic to live in the best possible place they can be on and off the pitch. And that’s not only players. That’s about infrastructure. “That is about academy.

“That is everything to do with Celtic. Getting out the very best operation that we possibly can. And I know for that, that will always be about success on the pitch. When you get success on the pitch, everything else flows from that.

“So you would like to think you can be a little bit more philosophical at times.”

Conor Spence was at today’s media conference representing The Celtic Star and asked Brendan about where he’s at with both Paulo Bernardo and Hayato Inamura. More on that to follow.

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Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Foreword by Danny McGrain. Published on Celtic Star Books on 5 September 2025. Click on image to pre-order.

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