The French Form Legion – Rodgers to play two up top against Rangers

THREE home games against Hamilton, FK Suduka and Rangers over the next week or so will give the Celtic players the chance to find their form and kick-start their season after the uncomfortable few weeks that we have all had to endure.

And the Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers indicated today that with Odsonne Edouard nearing full fitness, he will return to the side next week alongside Moussa Dembele to give Celtic the edge in the Glasgow Derby.

That’s the plan at least and three wins over the next week or so will certainly ensure that the feel good factor is back at Paradise – add to that a few new arrivals before the window closes (and showing the door to Boyata) and all will be well among the faithful.

Brendan Rodgers today looked forward to some home comforts after a run of tough away games.

“We love playing to home with the support that we get. With these next three games, it’s a great week for us, starting on Sunday. We need to get back on track again and get a positive result and performance,” Brendan said, continuing his theme from last night of talking up the Celtic support. Most welcome, Brendan and thanks for recognising the role of the support.

Looking at Sunday’s match, Rodgers is as always respectful of our opponents.

“Martin Canning’s team always provide us with a tough game and I’m sure off the back of a European match they’ll be looking to try and bring an energy into the game,” Brendan predicted.

“He’s always done a wonderful job in my experience up here with what he has to work with and how he gets the job done come the end of the season. We’ll expect a tough game and we’ll be prepared for that,” he continued.

While most sides are just easing themselves gently into their season, it seems like Celtic have been playing for months. That’s because we have. There’s been periods when our football has been a joy to watch and times when we have been rotten – like last night for example – and we’re still in August!

“It’s been such a busy schedule since we’ve come back. There have been a lot of games and a lot of work within this period,” Brendan noted.

“In order for us to play how we want to play, that energy and freshness is so important. You can’t ask the same players to sustain that in every game.

“We’re coming into a big week ahead of the international break so we have to ensure that we have that energy and freshness in the team. It might mean a few changes, but whoever comes in will be ready to perform.”

Rodgers was critical of his team’s performance at Firhill and again last night in Lithuania and is aiming to put that right over these three home matches.

“For us, we defend as a team, from the front to the back and attack as a team. We always have to ensure fundamentally that we do that.

“If you look at our record-breaking season, we defended very well in terms of our intensity and pressing and that then leads to really good goals. It’s everyone’s responsibility to do that. Any good team needs to have good centre-halves that can dominate and we have that, so it’s about ensuring their availability and the consistency.”

Celtic’s big summer signing Odsonne Edouard picked up a knock in the Hearts game and will remain sidelined on Sunday but he should be available for the other two games, maybe with the Rangers one being a more realistic target.

“Odsonne’s been a big miss for us. Our pre-season started great. We were working on a shape and structure that gave us a couple of strikers in the team and he’s a real link player within that. Some of our football in that period was very, very good. He got injured and there’s been some disruption in that.

“It’ll be great to have him back. He gives us options because of his qualities and football intelligence so it’ll be great to have him back.”

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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