“It’s nice for me” says Adam Idah, “I’ve got a lot more game time on my hands”

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·04 de fevereiro de 2025

“It’s nice for me” says Adam Idah, “I’ve got a lot more game time on my hands”

After Brendan Rodgers had his media conference this afternoon, Adam Idah was next and the Ireland international striker talked about the added responsibility he now has to lead the line for Celtic…

It’s certainly a challenge that Idah has grasped with enthusiasm with his goals at Villa Park and Fir Park in the two games played since Kyogo left the club.

Adam Idah.. Motherwell v Celtic, 2nd February 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou

Vídeos OneFootball

Q: Adam, you won’t be surprised to hear we spent a long time talking to the manager about not signing another striker. How do you feel about being, in theory, the main man in that position now?

Adam Idah: “Yeah, of course. It’s nice for me, obviously, that potentially I’ve got a lot more game time on my hands. But at the end of the day, it’s not my decision whether the club signs a striker or not. We’ve got a really strong squad. We’ve got plenty of young strikers in the squad that can do the job. We’ve seen Johnny back in Ireland when he was on loan, he was flying. So we’ve got plenty of options in the squad. I’m sure we’ve strengthened the squad with Jota coming back and Jeffrey Schlupp coming in. I’m sure we’ve still got a great squad.”

Q: How ready do you feel for that challenge of having a slightly greater burden, whether that’s even just minutes, because there’s one less of you in that area?

Adam Idah: “Yeah, it’s exciting for me. It’s what I wanted. It’s why I came to Celtic in the first place. Even last year when I came, I wanted more minutes and I’ve come back again in the summer. I’ve got a big responsibility to take and I’m ready to take it. I think when you’re playing football, you want to play as many minutes as you can. I’m ready to take that role.”

Adam Idah scores. Motherwell v Celtic, 2nd February 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Q: What is it like for people on the outside? You can be cynical and say you’d rather play all the games, but then sometimes we hear that you guys like competition for places. What was yesterday like, as an example? Do you keep an eye on who’s coming in and who isn’t?

Adam Idah: “Not really, to be fair. Especially with this squad, it’s all about the team. I don’t think I’d be too bothered if another striker came in, because at the end of the day we all want the same thing, and that’s to win as many trophies and titles as we can. Whoever comes in, we know they’re going to help. For us, we’re not really too focused on who comes in or who’s going out. It’s just whoever’s in the building right now and we focus on the job.”

Q: Were you expecting a new signing to be made?

Adam Idah: “Whoever comes in, we know they’re going to help. For us, we’re not really too focused on who comes in or who’s going out. It’s just whoever’s in the building right now and we focus on the job.”

Adam Idah. Motherwell v Celtic, 2nd February 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou

A lot of focus will be on you, a lot of eyes will be on you. Is that something you’re excited about?

Adam Idah: “To be honest, I wasn’t really that bothered. We know Kyogo left and he was the main key player here. I guess some people probably thought they were going to bring in a striker, but at the end of the day, like I said, we’ve got plenty of other strikers in the building. We’ve got young lads, obviously myself. For us, like I said, it’s doing the job and training and working hard and hopefully we can produce on the pitch.”

Q: A lot of focus will be on you, a lot of eyes will be on you. Is that something you’re excited about?

Adam Idah: “Yeah, it’s good. Like I said, it’s what I wanted. I want to be the main man and I want to have that role and responsibility to try and help the team, so it’s exciting times for me and hopefully I can carry on this goalscoring that I’ve been doing.”

Jeffrey Schlupp, photo Celtic FC

Q: The club obviously brought Jota in, brought Jeff Schlupp in for a striker. Is that exciting to see people who you know will supply into the areas that you want to see the ball in?

Adam Idah: “100 per cent. I haven’t played much with Jota, but I’ve seen him plenty of times before and he’s a player that will obviously produce a lot. The same with Jeff, I’ve played against him back down in England and he’s a fantastic player. We’ve all seen videos and the goals he’s scored and he’s unbelievable and I’m really excited to play with both of them, to be honest. It will be great for me and a great chance to play with them.”

Q: The manager mentioned his pace, his power, his versatility. As someone who’s played against him, is that a skill you recognise?

Adam Idah: “Yeah, 100 per cent. I think on my debut he played and he was unbelievable. We’ve got the same agent and so I know a lot about Jeff. From a young age I knew he was a top player and from hearing other players, they seem to say the same thing. I’m really excited to play with him.”

The corner flag inside the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League match between FC Bayern München and Paris Saint-Germain at Football Arena Munich on November 26, 2024 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

Q: A couple of games to go before the European tie, but how much are you looking forward to playing against Bayern Munich?

Adam Idah: “Yeah, I’m really excited. Obviously they’re a top, top team. They’re one of the best teams in the world. It’s really, really exciting for everyone to see what level we’re at and that’s where we want to be. We’re not in this competition just for fun. We want to go and do things and achieve things and these are the teams we’re going to have to play against. So everyone’s looking forward to the game and it’ll be exciting.”

Adam Idah scores his team’s first goal past Emiliano Martinez during the UEFA Champions League match between Aston Villa and Celtic at Villa Park on January 29, 2025. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Is it the sort of tie that helped entice you to Celtic Park?

Adam Idah: “Yeah, I think Champions League plays a part on it. I think every player wants to play in the Champions League. It’s one of the best competitions there is in football. It’s really exciting and we’re all looking forward to it.”

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