“Celtic Park’s built for a night like that. Big game, a big performance and an absolutely fanatical fan base,” Brendan Rodgers tells The Celtic Star at today’s Media Conference ahead of the Scottish Premiership match against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on Sunday afternoon…
Q: Brendan, can we start with some team news ahead of the weekend, how’s the team looking after Tuesday night’s match?
Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, well hopefully all being well, a couple of little knocks and minor things that the medical team are working with, but hopefully the same squad, obviously in a really good place physically and mentally. So yeah, but we’ve got another day to go, so hopefully all being well.”
Q: Some reports that Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty missed training, is that correct? Were there any issues?
Brendan Rodgers: “You’re absolutely right, they weren’t training, but yeah, more sort of precautionary, just giving them that extra little bit. We had obviously two very tough physical days in four games, so we’re just doing some light work inside and we’ll see how they are for tomorrow.”
Q: I can imagine the team is still flying and still on a huge high after Tuesday night.
Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, I think the four days, from Saturday’s performance and getting to the League Cup final was a real statement win for us domestically. But then to go into a game of that magnitude against that level of opponent, I’ve heard it talked about as a generational game, which I couldn’t argue with. The performance level, it’s something that we’ve been working towards for the last 12 to 16 months. Obviously, going back to last season, our performances against Atletico Madrid and away in Feyenoord when we lost. I know that people purely only look at the score, but for me, it’s about the process and the build-up to that. And even partly, the Borussia Dortmund game plays a part in that. We started off the Champions League really, really well, three really good performances out of the four. But the other night, it made me so proud just watching the team, the level of the team and how aggressive we were with and without the ball against a genuine top side. It was a great night for the players, for everyone in the club, the supporters. They would have had a glow now for a few days and rightly so because their team did them proud. But now we’re back to our bread and butter and get ready for Kilmarnock.”
Q: Does the excitement come, as the manager, from the fact that it’s still quite early on in the season? There could be many more gears to go up, the potential to grow and get even better this season is obviously still there.
Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, and I think that’s always been my mantra with working with teams and, more importantly, working with individuals. I said it here over a number of weeks ago, no matter what the scorelines we’re winning by, we still have a duty to develop players. So I know that the players will continue to develop. But I think you can’t underestimate the confidence that a win like that the other night and the performance in Atalanta in a different way, what that brings to you. And I think for the players, just the level was so high with and without the ball and that gives us great confidence going forward. But there are still lots of improvements that the team can make, and the individuals can make and will make over the coming months.”
