Kieran Tierney seen during the Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
Q: Good for Kieran Tierney today as well, Brendan, getting the 90 minutes?
Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, psychologically, I felt it was important for him. He hasn’t played 90 in a long, long time, but for him just to push himself, to get over the hill, was very important. And, yes, I thought he was, especially in the first half, the combination play with him and Sebastian on that side was outstanding.”
Q: Kieran looks strong?
Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, he’s gone through a lot, not just physically, but mentally. There’s a stress on a player that you can never understand, unless you’ve had really bad injuries, and what that does to you, and what it makes you think about whenever you’re pushing yourself. And when you’re young and fresh and haven’t got many injuries, then you’re just free and you’re 100 per cent. When you know that you’ve been out for maybe periods of time, it can psychologically hurt you. But he’s getting over all that, and it’s just every day getting better and improving. And today, it’s good for him to get the 90 minutes.”
Sebastian Tounekti during the Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
Q: I know it’s early in his career, but Sebastian Tounekti’s looking every inch a Celtic winger, in a throwback sense. He’s a guy that takes people on, and you were talking about his numbers and everything, but he excites the crowd?
Brendan Rodgers: “Oh, yes, he excites me every time he gets the ball, and that’s what we were desperate for in the team. So, he’s come in and been really aggressive. He’s a really talented boy because he can go either way, and also, not only that, he can run in behind. You see the number of times he makes runs. Sometimes he doesn’t get it, sometimes he does, but he’s running off the ball as well. So, I’m really excited for where he is and where we can bring him to. But importantly, supporters will love watching him because he’s so exciting.”
Sebastian Tounekti scores during the Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
Q: Because that tradition is something to be embraced, isn’t it?
Brendan Rodgers: “I think that when you come here and you look through the history of this club, it’s littered with amazing wingers, and that’s the football we play. The DNA of this club is based on attacking football, and that is with wingers on the side of the pitch that can take people on, beat people. And every time he gets the ball, you just sense the excitement, and that’s what we need on both sides.”
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Decent performance yesterday, on another poor pitch, so exciting prospect of what this team of ours, to see what can actually be produced in the next 2 games on better playing surfaces.
The structure of the squad is completed now by the looks of things. Hopefully the one dimensional look, doesn’t become an issue, where it’s so obvious what our gameplan will be for every game, with starting 11, and subs used in games.
The fiasco over the summer, I still don’t believe is totally finalised either, especially as only 3 changes are allowed in January to our European squad, which I still believe that potentially has more than 3 at present, who could be looking at there futures elsewhere from ourselves.
Got time now, over the challenges ahead over the next few months now, so have to see what develops regarding that situation. At least when jota returns, it could provide a better balance in our attacking options, especially as we could look unbalanced with our right side in operation?
Big few months for yang, who even if quite enough yesterday, still had big moments within the game. Our style of play involves big moments within it, plenty produced yesterday, and delighted to see so many contributing to those big moments, as that should improve confidence going forward for ourselves imo.
Would like to think that yesterday, was eventually the kick start of our season, been a while in waiting, but eventually achieved by the looks of things.
Whether that’s good or enough, remains an answer in waiting, but confidence growing after yesterday, for myself anyway.