Brendan Rodgers spoke with Sky Sports Scotland this afternoon to preview the club’s upcoming clash with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. The Celtic manager takes his team to face-off with Derek McInnes’ side on Sunday lunchtime again and that one will again be live on Sky Sports from 11am with all the build-up taking place an hour before kick-off at 12pm.
The man who watched his team respond in spectacular fashion to their last Sunday outing in Perthshire at McDiarmid Park is anticipating the usual from his counterpart and his team. Strong and compact with a good defensive structure that will no doubt frustrate the Bhoys on that plastic surface which has really become a bug-bear for years now in the Scottish Premiership.
In regard his own team, when asked about the questions that were put to him and his side recently away from home in the league and the response, he admitted that it was a difficult moment for the team but he’s happy with the reaction on Wednesday night. He also added that the changes that have happened since Ange Postecoglou left the club have taken a bit of getting used to for some of his charges and it contributed to an underwhelming UEFA Champions League group stages campaign and exiting the League Cup so early.
When prompted on the impact his fringe men have had lately, he confessed that they really couldn’t have did more and reserved special praise for Mikey Johnston and his undoubted abilities on the ball. He also confirmed that both he and the backroom staff want to do everything they possibly can to turn Mikey into the player everyone knows he has the potential to be, yet has struggled to unlock it for various reasons.
On the idea that his confidant and close backroom staff member, Harry Kewell might be leaving to seek pastures new after being linked with J-League side Yokohama F. Marinos, the Celtic boss was coy and didn’t give much away. He’s claimed there is interest in his services from abroad and he isn’t surprised by that in the least because Kewell is a “talented guy”. Rodgers also admitted that he wouldn’t stand in the Australian’s way if he decided to “broaden his horizons”.
Watch the full interview below…
🍀 Returning to Rugby Park
🍀 Impact of Mikey Johnston
🍀 Fringe players “can’t do much more”
🍀 Will Harry Kewell leave?We’ve been speaking to Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers ahead of Sunday’s trip to Kilmarnock, live on Sky Sports 📺 pic.twitter.com/Tl0bnGHAop
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) December 8, 2023
Paul Gillespie
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