Brendan Rodgers – Reasons for Kyogo leaving and sensational Jota return

Q: I can also just ask you about your captain the other night, Brendan. Callum, I don’t know if you’d be aware of this, but there were one or two murmurings that perhaps he’d come off the boil a little bit of late. What did you make of his performance the other night? Did that show that that absolutely is not the case?

Brendan Rodgers: “I thought he was absolutely brilliant in the game. He’s an outstanding player. He’s been here for such a long time. How he leads this team with his commitment and his example is absolutely second to none. I’ve managed him in so many games over both my spells. The consistency and the level that he produces are absolutely incredible. Now, from time to time, he might not be 9/10. Or maybe even 7/10 sometimes. But that’s just the level he’s set. How he drives this team. I’ve said before the game; that he’s the real heartbeat of this team. The level of his game that he’s shown the other night against RB Leipzig. Away in Atalanta, he’s still a player for the very highest level. You’ll always have your critics. Manager, player, it doesn’t matter. It’ll come to you, whether it’s deserved or not. What I know is that the example he sets, both on and off the pitch here, I’m very, very lucky to have him as my captain.”

Q: I was just going to say, there’s obviously disappointment amongst the Celtic supporters with Kyogo going, given the impact he had. From your point of view, how important is it to come out of the window stronger? If you think you’re want to bring in another striker, Jota could be returning, obviously Kieran Tierney as well. You’re in a good position to end the window in a stronger position, surely?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, absolutely. We’re in a fantastic position. It’s just the nature of life here. Players do really well. They will move on. The thing always for supporters is if they feel that certain connection to an individual, and obviously with Kyogo and his time here, his connection with the supporters and our young supporters, that was there for all to see. You can see his happiness at being here. But players will move on, and people will move on. We just have to thank him, if the deal goes through, for everything that he’s done here for Celtic and his time and the contribution that he’s made. Like I said, there’s still a while to go in the window. You can see things will happen in this last week or so. That’s always the aim. We certainly didn’t plan to sell Kyogo, and then be any weaker. Our idea is to be stronger coming out of January.”

Q: On Jota, he’s been a hero at Celtic before. How confident are you that he can have the same impact?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, I’m very confident. I think that there’s a possibility of him being able to come. He was one player that when I was coming back the first time, I was really, really looking forward to working with. I’d seen him play for Celtic, of course, and seen the impact that he made in terms of creating goals, scoring goals and that connection with the supporters. So, I was really, really looking forward to him and working with him. Then, virtually before I’d arrived, it was really agreed that he was gone. So, yeah, that was disappointing.

“I’ve spoken to him at length. The challenge always is, and I know through first-hand experience, is that when you’ve created a legacy, lots of people will tell you to come back and maybe that legacy can be dented. But my feelings to him and advice to him was, to come back and grow that legacy to be even greater. If you’re not happy in your work where you are or how it’s going for you, you know that this is a place where you will improve, you will develop. And he’s at a different moment in his life now as well, even though he’s been away only a few years. So, yeah, I think that he’ll come back with a real motivation. He’s got quality, but still got things he can improve, to develop. But he’s still young and if the deal comes through. Then, I’ll be really excited to work with him.”

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