Brendan Rodgers during the training session at Lennoxtown on February 11, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Q: How do you balance this? It’s a Wednesday, first leg, Tuesday, second leg. Quite tight and a tough game in the middle of it as well. What was into your decision-making when you decide who’s able to keep playing this game against United?
Brendan Rodgers: “Well, I think we’ll do what we’ve done most of the season. There’s some positions that we’ll freshen up, that we maybe need it. Of course, you can’t not look at Tuesday because the turnaround is so fast. We know that we’ll have to be at a real high level physically for that game. But I also know the bread and butter. We need to be at a good physical level for this game. Since the last time Dundee United played, we’ve played four games in that period. The last time they played was the 1st of February. Since then, we’ve played four games. We will still bring the freshness. I have to think of that when I’m picking a team to find the intensity and look to get the result. Hopefully, from that, we then go on to Tuesday. It’s all about the recovery now and then picking a team that can be fresh.”
Adam Idah scores Celtic’s second goal past Emiliano Martinez of Aston Villa during the UEFA Champions League match between Aston Villa and Celtic at Villa Park on January 29, 2025. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Q: How do you get the boys up for a game like this on Saturday? Wednesday, massive game. Tuesday, another massive game. We just spoke to Adam there and he said that when he first came to the club, it was something that he found a bit difficult to balance. The massive European nights and then, as you say, the bread and butter of the league. What do you say to the boys to remain as focused exactly as they need to be?
Brendan Rodgers: “It just depends. Every game is a different scenario. It’s like last weekend, going into Raith. We’re expected to win. We should win. But then we have to perform. Sometimes you’re given performance goals within the game to achieve. Whether that’s a counter-pressing, pressing, target, whatever. But every game is important here. I think players understand that. If they don’t initially, they will do. Obviously, it’s my job to drive that and to lead that. I know as well as anyone the importance of whether it’s Raith, whether it’s Bayern Munich or whether it’s Dundee United. Every game is a big game here. We’re always mindful of that and the players are mindful of it as well.”
