Brendan Rodgers: We're looking forward to kicking off defence of our trophy | OneFootball

Celtic begin their defence of the Premier Sports Cup this Friday night when they play host to Falkirk (KO: 7.45pm).

Brendan Rodgers is looking forward to the game, and regardless of the busy schedule of fixtures ahead, including a double-header against Kazakh side, FC Kairat Almaty in the Champions League play-off, he will field a strong side at Paradise with the aim of progressing to the next round of the domestic cup competition.

And he also had praise for his opposite number in the Falkirk dugout, John McGlynn, and the job he’s done at the club in delivering back-to-back promotions.

Speaking at Lennoxtown today, the Celtic manager said: “We’ve had players who’ve come back a little bit later so they need to get up to speed.

“There are others that won’t play and I also have to think about Livingston, rather than throw players on for their first game, so the team will be strong and I’ll have a good bench.

“I’m so happy for John, and I think what he’s demonstrated in his time since he’s come back into management, is that talent and technique will always override power, unless you have the resources to get power as well as technique and talent.

“I look at his teams at Raith and what he’s doing now at Falkirk in bringing them up, and you see how they play, and you see the attitude and energy they have in the game, the technical qualities they have.

“He and Paul Smith, his assistant, have done a brilliant job, and I’m just so pleased for him because there was a wee bit of nervousness at the end of last year but they got the job done.

“He deserves all the accolades he gets, he’s been absolutely fantastic and, like I’ve said, they’ve demonstrated their game idea and how they want to play, and they’ve demonstrated a belief in that, and that football philosophy has allowed Falkirk to get promoted for the first time in years.

“So well done to him, his staff and his players and, for us, we don’t underestimate them tomorrow night. We’ll be ready from the first whistle to be really aggressive in the game.”

The manager also spoke about his delight at having Kieran Tierney back at Celtic, and the fact that they are carefully managing his game-time in these early weeks of the new season.

“That will just be time and I just want to take it steady with Kieran because he’s full on in training, his mentality is unbelievable,” Brendan Rodgers said.

“It’s also considering that he hasn’t played a lot over the last couple of years, so then just throwing him into every game for 90 minutes, that’s not really going to work for us.

“But I’ve been so pleased with how he has come in and how he’s settled, and he’s getting between 60 and 70 minutes and just working his fitness level.

“He understands it now and he’s obviously got a great maturity to him now, and he’s probably sensed that maybe he’s been his own worst enemy, because he is so committed and he is so full-on.

“But you can see his maturity as an experienced player now, in those moments where, if you’re doing six exercises and you take him out of the last one, he understands it better now, even though he’s inherently a guy who gives everything.

“It’s never 70 or 80 per cent. It’s always 100 per cent but I’ve been so pleased to have him back and he’s showed up really well.”

Watch the manager’s full press conference

Upcoming Fixtures

Celtic Vs. Falkirk - Fri, Aug 8th 2025, 18:45 Match Information | Buy Tickets | Buy Hospitality