Celtic transfer news: Brendan Rodgers will not ‘beg’ players to join as he plans squad revamp
During the summer transfer window, Brendan Rodgers expanded his roster by adding nine players; Rangers are currently eight points behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership; With one point from four games, Parkhead Club is at the bottom of their Champions League group.
The head coach of the Houston Rockets will make use of the next two transfer windows to get his team to a position where he is satisfied with both its talent and size.
After the club’s annual general meeting at Celtic Park, the Parkhead manager discussed the tremendous prospects of playing for Celtic, who lead Rangers by eight points at the top of the Premiership. He also acknowledged the difficulty in luring elite players to Scottish football.
“I don’t want to add to the squad, we have a squad of 32 which we need to bring down as well as bring in quality players,” Rodgers stated.
“But I’m pretty confident that the team will look the way I want it to over the course of the next few windows, both in terms of quantity and quality.
Naturally, some players will want to play and advance, so we need to find out if there are any players better than the ones we currently have available for acquisition. I’m not sure how to calculate it, but there’s always movement.
“Players always want to play in more prestigious or competitive leagues, so it presents a challenge.
“However, what Celtic provides here is truly exceptional in that it gives players the chance to play in front of a devoted fan base, grow as a player, win, and reside in a beautiful city.
“Many players and managers have expressed that they only truly understand that after coming here, and sometimes that is the only way.
We won’t grovel for players to come; instead, we will always work hard.
If you are fortunate enough to be able to work and play here, you will understand that this is an amazing club to play for. Thus, that is a continuous issue.”
Although Rodgers is pleased with his team’s domestic performance this year, he feels that Celtic’s Champions League standings—bottom of Group E with one point from four games before their match against Lazio in Rome on Tuesday night—do not accurately reflect their play.
After Ange Postecoglou left for Tottenham in the summer, the former manager of Liverpool and Leicester, who took over at Celtic Park for a second time, stated: “From the Champions League perspective, I think there is a narrative around, I sense a little bit, the overall start.”
“The players, in my opinion, have been outstanding. With the exception of the second half against Atletico Madrid, the players have been outstanding and have improved with each game.
We have a very well-organized team, and we have demonstrated that spirit in the other games, including our fierce competition against Feyenoord with nine men.
I can therefore appreciate where we are at; it’s a level where quality and experience are essential, but experience also grows through experience.
“But there is no doubt we have to be stronger going forward over the following seasons here, that was one of the big drivers to come back.”
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