“With the energy and the support, anything is possible in the game,” Brendan Rodgers

In partnership with

The Celtic Star

·11 de fevereiro de 2025

“With the energy and the support, anything is possible in the game,” Brendan Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers spoke to the media at Celtic Park this afternoon ahead of tomorrow evening’s Champions League play-off first leg tie against Bayern Munich at Paradise…

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is seen during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off first leg Press Conference on February 11, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Conor Spence was there representing The Celtic Star and he certainly tried his best to get tomorrow’s team sheet off the Celtic manager! Here’s everything that was said…

Q: It’s Celtic’s first knockout match in the Champions League in 12 years, just how much are you looking forward to the occasion?

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Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, we’re very excited by it. It’s a great challenge and a great test for us against a top side, so we’re looking forward to it.”

Daizen Maeda during the UEFA Champions League Training Session at Lennoxtown on February 11, 2025 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: There was some big news last night that you’re going to have Daizen Maeda back for this one as well, what’s your reaction to that?

Brendan Rodgers: “It’s such a great bit of news that we got last night. He’s an extraordinary player. I think how he’s been this year for us in, not just his goals, but what his value gives to the team in terms of his pressing and his honesty to the game. So to have that mentality and that ability available was, yeah, it was a big surprise for us, but a nice surprise.”

Brendan Rodgers, Manager of Celtic, speaks to Daizen Maeda of Celtic during the training session at Lennoxtown on February 11, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: Brendan, on him, we see what he does on the pitch, what’s he like as a guy? What’s he like around the training pitch?

Brendan Rodgers: “He’s like most footballers, they’re good people, and as a guy he’s super professional, he’s in every day, does his work, does all the right things to prepare himself to be a top professional. He trains as he plays, so he’s very intense and gives everything in his training, and obviously he then takes that personality onto the field. He’s been an absolute joy to work with and just seeing him develop and grow over the course of the season. I think his ability, his finishing, but add to that, like I say, the work rate and intensity, he’s a really, really pivotal player for us.”

Daizen Maeda of Celtic scores his team’s fifth goal and his hat-trick goal during the Scottish Cup match between Celtic FC and Raith Rovers FC at Celtic Park on February 08, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: On that point about development, you’re a development coach, you like to bring players on, what is it in particular that’s pleased you about him and what have you been saying to him to raise his game, because it looks like he’s playing his best football?

Brendan Rodgers: “I think it’s just maturity. He’s obviously improving as a player with experiences and obviously comfort in how we work and how we play. If I go back, I think he scored goals before he came into Celtic. Obviously, Ange brings him in, having worked with him in Japan, so he knows his qualities, he knows everything in his game. He was a goal scorer over there, he’s come to here, it may have taken a little bit of time to get used to the Scottish game and the British game, but you see now he’s right in flow, he understands the physicality of the game in these parts of the world. And the physicality at the highest level in European football, so he’s well suited to that and now he’s really getting in consistently into positions.

Daizen Maeda of Celtic scores his team’s second goal past Josh Rae of Raith Rovers during the Scottish Cup match between Celtic FC and Raith Rovers FC at Celtic Park on February 08, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“I think what you have with him, I think his conversion rate now is something that’s improved. I think he’s probably always had chances and always been there. Now he arrives with confidence to score and now his technique and his finishing are at the top level. The coaches do a brilliant job with him in terms of the work and I try to inspire him and manage him and point out little things within his game. He himself is a learner and he’s doing very well.”

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Q: On the wider game tomorrow, how much of a gauge is this of the progress that you’ve made? You’re there on merit, it’s going to be arguably your biggest test out of the season. How much of a test is it and a gauge of all the progress that you’ve made at this level in Europe?

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is seen during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off first leg Press Conference on February 11, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Brendan Rodgers: “I don’t think it’s a gauge, I think we’ve already shown progress this season before we kick a ball tomorrow night. I’ve been very pleased with that side of it. I think over the course of the eight games we’ve played Borussia Dortmund top team, Atalanta top team, RB Leipzig came into the tournament as one of the leading teams. So we’ve proven in this first season that there are elements to our game that are making progress. But of course we were in it for the purpose and the purpose was to get to this stage past the eight games. So now we play probably one of the teams that will see themselves as favourites for the competition.

Vincent Kompany, head coach of FC Bayern München looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League match between FC Bayern München and SK Slovan Bratislava at Football Arena Munich on January 29, 2025. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

“They’ve got wonderful talent, Vincent Kompany’s gone in there and done a really, really good job with some top young players and some really experienced players. But I can’t wait for that because that’s what you look forward to as a coach. I know we are all as a team looking to test ourselves and measure ourselves against an absolutely brilliant team.”

Q: Brendan, we all know it’s been a long time coming for Celtic to play these knockout European ties. How excited are you to see the atmosphere here tomorrow night and how big a sense of pride will you have leading your team out here against a team that is in this competition to win it?

Brendan Rodgers: “They’re one of the giants of the European game. They really are football royalty in terms of what they’ve achieved over many, many years at this level. So for us to be in a position where we can challenge them is a great marker for us. I know with our game, we mix up the basics of our game, our running power and physicality, which is something that we’ve really improved on at this level.

Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty during the UEFA Champions League Training at Lennoxtown Training on February 11, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“When I look back to 2023/24, that’s been a big part of our learning, bringing the physicality to the game and improving in that aspect. I think if we can do that and with the energy and the support behind it, then anything is possible in the game. I think what is important for us is that we’re very much alive in the tie going over to Germany. I think that would be the key message for us. We want to go and perform. We’re not frightened to lose. That’s not what this is about, this is about going and performing. If we can perform well, like we’ve shown in this competition, especially at home, hopefully we can get what we deserve.”

Q: Just on that, how important is it to your players that they’re not necessarily going out there just to be alive in seven days’ time? They’re going out there to try and win the game, take the game to Bayern Munich here at home?

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is seen during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off first leg Press Conference on February 11, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Brendan Rodgers: “That’s virtually what I said.”

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Q: Do you have to win the first leg to have any chance of progressing?

“We don’t have to, but you want to. I think that would be the message. Obviously we know going over to Germany in the second leg is always the challenge of being away from home, but I think we would want to. That’s our mindset looking into the game, looking to win the game to see if we can take an advantage across next week.

Harry Kane of FC Bayern Munich goes forward during the Bundesliga match between Sport-Club Freiburg and FC Bayern München at Europa-Park Stadion on January 25, 2025 in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. (Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images)

How much do you rate Harry Kane?

Brendan Rodgers: “Oh, he’s absolutely brilliant. Obviously I’ve known Harry for a long time and come across him many times. Harry’s actually one of them ones that until you’re stood on the side of the pitch and you face him, you actually only really, really then see his level. I know as a young player he came through the system at Tottenham. It wasn’t easy for him at the beginning. He had lots of loans getting out to clubs, didn’t quite work out. Then he was given the opportunity by Tim Sherwood at Tottenham. From that, Tim had belief in him and worked with him as a young player. Then once he got into the team, his development just increased from that. You look at him now, he’s a world class player. He’s changed his game up a bit as well in the last number of years. He’s on the move more, dropping short. You see his passing, you see his abilities, but he’s also tough.

“I can’t speak highly enough of him. I think he was absolutely brilliant at Tottenham. He showed the same for England and gone out to Bayern. You just need to look at his goal record. He’s a fantastic player and a good guy.”

Kasper Schmeichel speaks to Gavin Strachan during the UEFA Champions League Training Session at Lennoxtown on February 11, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: Kasper’s played against him a lot as well. Does that help at all when you’re up against these kind of elite players and trying to cope with them?

Brendan Rodgers: “I always think with top players, you look tactically to find ways and that’s the beauty of the game. You’re trying to nullify the strengths. But I sometimes think with the very best players, you want to deny them space, but they always find space. That’s my experience of working at a level where the world class players will find the space. I think he’s one of those. But of course we have to nullify that threat. They have other quality players. And bring our game as well, which I’ve been really pleased with as well.”

Daizen Maeda of Celtic is seen prior to the Celtic FC v Raith Rovers FC – Scottish Cup match at Celtic Park on February 08, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: Just on the news that Daizen Maeda is available tomorrow, it’s obviously great news for you, but how difficult a decision is it to decide if he plays, where to play tomorrow, given how informed he’s been in both those positions?

Brendan Rodgers: “It’s been pretty straightforward. Just having him available was the most important thing.”

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Q: The club released the robust financial accounts yesterday. How important is it to you that that money backs you on the pitch?

Celtic Chairman Peter Lawwell and Chief Executive Michael Nicholson in the directors box. Celtic v Kilmarnock, Cinch Scottish Premiership, 17 February 2024. Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock

Brendan Rodgers: “I think the club have done that. I think the club have been very, very supportive of myself coming back. You can see some of the signings we made in the summer. They’ve been brilliant in that aspect. We as a club, we want to go forward. We all have ambitions to keep proving ourselves at this level. For that you need to build and build and build. And also you have to have half a mind on making sure you’re a sustainable club. So I think from the accounts aspect it’s obviously very, very healthy. Of course as a manager we want to put those funds and some of that fund into the team, but you’ve seen that the club have done that. Hopefully we can do that going forward.”

Cameron Carter-Vickers during the UEFA Champions League Training at Lennoxtown Training on February 11, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: Is Cameron Carter-Vickers okay? Is he fit? Is he available?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, he’s fit and available. We gave a few of the boys a bit of a rest at the weekend. But yeah, he’s fine. He has played against Harry Kane before in training and whatnot. So yeah, he’s okay.”

Q: Against Aston Villa Celtic were quite aggressive, pressing very high up the pitch. Feyenoord, however, when they were playing Bayern Munich, they wanted to sit back and restrict Bayern’s space in the centre of the field. What consideration have you made when deciding how to set up against an organised press, against such a quality opposition?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, a mixture really. I think if you see the Feyenoord game, from a static position they’re looking to press. Once the press is broken, then you will cover in behind the ball. When you’re playing the really, really top teams, you have to pivot in those strategies in terms of, there has to be moments when you can press the game. A lot of the time it’s from that static goal kick position when you’re there. The minute that gets broken, then you’ve got to recover and deny space. So I would think you’d probably say a wee bit of both. I think that’s the balance we need in the game. And then when we play and we take the ball, we have to then play with our authority in the game, which is important.”

Celtic players during the UEFA Champions League Training at Lennoxtown Training on February 11, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

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Q: When you’re approaching these games, do you look at it from a, how can you exploit their weakness? Or how do you find ways to accentuate our qualities?

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is seen during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off first leg Press Conference on February 11, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Brendan Rodgers: “It’s exactly the same in every single game, whether that’s Raith or Bayern Munich or whatever. You always have to respect the opposition and what their strengths are. So how can you curtail those? But then we want to always play like a big team and we want to impose our way in the game. So of course that is very, very important for us. But it’s balance. I always think you defend well, you pass well.

“Thankfully these players are being so, so good in that aspect from a defensive perspective. That has given us the platform to play some great football in all the competitions. So it will be the balance of the game between pressing and then bringing our creativity to the game. That’s our game identity. It’s very much about the connection in the team, with and without the ball, being creative, breaking lines, hard running. All these things are all part of our game.”

Nicolas Kuhn of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic FC and RB Leipzig at Celtic Park on November 05, 2024 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: A few of the players mentioned the RB Leipzig game as being a benchmark for yourselves in this competition. What pleased you most about the team performance on that night? And do you think you may have to better that again?

Brendan Rodgers: “We’ll certainly have to be at the same level of that. I think that when I look at everything, we played the game technically and tactically at a really high level. The mindset, we were also really good in the game. So having started well and then actually gone behind in the game, how we responded, I was impressed by that.

Nicolas Kuhn of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic FC and RB Leipzig at Celtic Park on November 05, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“Then like I say, the big steps that we’ve made this season has been in the physical demands of the game. Because at this level, it’s absolutely critical. That pleased me because the pressing that we did, if you think of the second goal, it’s one of the best goals that we’ve scored since we’ve been here. Why? Because it shows that mentality, it shows a real positivity to step inside the pressure and win the ball. So that side of the game was really good. And yes, we will have to get to those levels again.”

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Celtic v BSC Young Boys, view of Paradise from the sky. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Q: You mentioned earlier the home form. That’s six unbeaten in Europe now at Celtic Park. It’s becoming a difficult place for opponents to go again. How important a factor will the home fans play tomorrow in terms of being patient and understanding the game? It’s obviously against a top-quality opposition who have a lot of the ball. Do you think the fans have a major factor to play in that?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, and I think they have done. I have to say, I go back to the Young Boys game here and I know I spoke about that leading into the game and I thought when it could have got a little bit nervy in the last 15 minutes, the supporters were amazing. They sensed it and they really got behind the team and lifted the team.

Callum McGregor during the UEFA Champions League Training Session at Lennoxtown on February 11, 2025 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“So that side is very important and I feel it’s great. It’s where I wanted to take the club back to where we come here. It’s not just a tick-box exercise for players to come and say they’ve played at Celtic Park. You want them to hurt in this arena as well and you want them to find the challenges of that combination between the supporters and the players on the pitch, making it a really, really, really difficult night. Obviously, this will be a massive test of that, but that’s what we sign up for.”

Conor Spence: It’s been seven and a half years since we last played Bayern here. What has your evolution as a coach been like managing the Champions League since then?

Callum McGregor of Celtic shoots past Bayern Munich goalkeeper Sven Ulreich to level the score at 1-1 Celtic v Bayern Munich, UEFA Champions League, Celtic Park, 31 October 2017. Photo by Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock

Brendan Rodgers: “It’s just experiences. I remember back it that game, I thought we played well in the game. We went behind and then we played well and then we got back into the game at 1-1 and sadly we didn’t keep the game long enough at that scoreline. It was a competitive game and I think that’s been the joy for me to have seen us develop and progress at that level where we are competitive. I expect it to be that tomorrow.

Callum McGregor of Celtic celebrates with James Forrest after scoring to level the match at 1-1 Celtic v Bayern Munich, UEFA Champions League, Celtic Park, 31 October 2017. Photo by Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock

“In terms of my own experiences, it’s just the games, the level. It’s a high level and sometimes you’re bringing Celtic into playing against some of these great teams, which is a great privilege for me. As I’ve always said, we want to also be competitive at this level and I think we’ve shown that and now can we go forward and sustain that over the coming years?”

Jota of Celtic looks on from the substitutes bench prior to the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup match between Celtic FC and Raith Rovers FC at Celtic Park on February 08, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Conor Spence: You’ve spoken about Jota and how he needs to physically get up to speed. Do you think that he can start the game tomorrow and make a huge impact, despite only playing 29 games since departing Celtic?

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is seen during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off first leg Press Conference on February 11, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Brendan Rodgers: “You’ve got a pen and a bit of paper? I’ll tell you the whole team. He’s definitely in the squad. I’ve got to say I’ve been so impressed with him close up. I’ve obviously watched him from the outside. I’ve heard some of the players talk about him. But seeing him come in and seeing him on the pitch, he’s just got quality. He needs to get to a physical level. But that’s just time and a bit of support around that because he hasn’t played a great deal. But there’s absolutely no doubt about his quality.”

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Q: Were you surprised Daizen Maeda won the appeal, he obviously played quite a few minutes in the weekend there? Were you surprised when you got the news last night?

Daizen Maeda. Motherwell v Celtic, 2nd February 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou

Q: Were you surprised Daizen Maeda won the appeal, he obviously played quite a few minutes in the weekend there? Were you surprised when you got the news last night?

Brendan Rodgers: “I know, I ran the legs off him for three games! To be fair, the appeal, it was brilliant by the club I’ve got to say, because he was always going to serve one game and then until you then get the written report, which didn’t come through until Thursday or Friday last week, then you can’t then put in your appeal. But as soon as it did come in, obviously the club put in the appeal, which with the greatest respect to UEFA, we were thinking this probably wouldn’t bear fruit. When I got the call to say he was able to play, I thought, goodness me, he’s played the three full games, he couldn’t have run any more, he’s a striker, he’s a winger. But thankfully he’s just a bundle of energy, so he’ll be OK.

Daizen Maeda celebrates scoring Celtic’s third goal during the match between Celtic and Dundee at Celtic Park on February 05, 2025 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“Just answering your question, we were a wee bit surprised when it came through. But it wasn’t unsurprising because of getting two games, what was that word? Assault. There wasn’t an assault, that was in the report. So I think on that basis, the club were great, they appealed it and thankfully we won.”

Harry Kane of Bayern Munich scores his team’s first goal from the penalty spot during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern München and SV Werder Bremen at Allianz Arena on February 07, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

Q: Brendan, just on Harry Kane, do you remember the first time you saw him as a young player and or the first time you thought, well hang on, this guy’s different?

I remember him as a youth player and then going out on loan when he was young. I’d seen him at Spells, I think he was at Millwall, he was actually at Leicester as well for a bit. I’d seen him play at Norwich.

Harry Kane of Bayern Munich scores his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League match between FC Bayern München and SK Slovan Bratislava at Football Arena Munich on January 29, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

Q: And was there fuss about him then, was he one of these hyped people?

Brendan Rodgers: “No, no, no, Harry would tell you himself, he wasn’t what I would say the gold medallist. And that’s normally the players who do come through anyway, those silver medallist players, the guys that are having to strive and fight for their careers. And that was Harry, he would tell you himself.

“But then he found someone who really appreciated him and backed him in Tim, and Tim was working in the youths at that time. And when Harry had the chance to go out on loan again, didn’t want to go, Tim put him in the team and from that he’s never really looked back. Then it’s all about your attitude, your professionalism, your desire to be the best player you can be. You see all of that, you see how he’s developed, how he’s matured, his training, everything. I’ve obviously spoken with boys that worked with him with England as well. And yeah, they speak so highly of him. So, a world-class player and yeah, he’s doing a brilliant job for his team now.”

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Daizen Maeda controls the ball whilst under pressure from Ethan Ingram during the match between Celtic and Dundee at Celtic Park on February 05, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: What you were saying about running the legs off Daizen Maeda. Our pundits were saying he never looks tired. Is he one of the fittest players you’ve ever managed in terms of his running ability, his athleticism?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, he’ll be fine for the games, don’t get me wrong. He’ll be absolutely fine, he had a little bit out before those games as well. Listen, if you go into the Premier League, they’ve got the capacity and physicality that you need for that league. There’s players there that have that, of course. But he does all the things that you don’t need talent for. He goes in to the highest level. All the running, the pressing and his will to run and run and run is absolutely incredible. I haven’t worked with too many like that.

Daizen Maeda celebrates scoring the third goal with teammate Jota during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee at Celtic Park on February 05, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“There are ones that can do it in bursts, of course, and pressure. But for someone, the desire to want to run is absolutely at the highest level. So, we’re very lucky to have him here. He’s come in and Ange done brilliantly to bring him in. Put him in the team and he’s just continued to grow and develop. And now you see his composure when he’s in front of the goal, scoring goals, all types of goals. Yeah, just very, very pleased that he’s with us.”

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