Q: You said a few weeks ago that change will be needed this summer. Do you foresee part of that being players going as well because of the standard that some of the players have been playing at? Do you anticipate that it might be a big exit, a bit like a Jota two years ago or Matt O’Riley a year ago?
Brendan Rodgers: “I don’t know. When I say change, it’s just something that’s natural. It’s not me demanding this. Change will just naturally take place. If every player was here in the squad and every player was staying, I would say, I look at it, I’d probably need three players to add to what we have, of quality. But that’s probably not going to be the case [that every player will stay]. There will be interest in players, I’m pretty sure, because of the level the team has been at. Then we have to assess it from there. Then I think players that maybe aren’t playing so much will move on. So then all of a sudden you have change. It’s good that we have to do that to progress. This team have been absolutely brilliant over the couple of years I’ve been here. But I think there will be some natural movement come the summer. But either way, we look to come back in pre-season and by the end of the window, the summer will be stronger.”
Reo Hatate of Celtic scores to give Celtic a 4-0 lead. Celtic v Kilmarnock, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 12 April 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock
Q: There’s a story this morning that Reo Hatate is of interest to clubs in Italy – is he one who has flown under the radar a bit in terms of his contribution and level of football?
Brendan Rodgers: “I think for Reo I can feel a little bit, especially in the first year here, there’s a little bit of inconsistency there. There’s absolutely no doubt he’s a big talent. He’s obviously a bit later in age now, even though he’s 27. But maybe sometimes I think he’s at the wrong end of the asset age. They tend to go for younger players. But for me, he’s an absolutely outstanding player. How he protects the ball, how he’s prepared to play the risk pass. He’s got goals, he can take the ball. I think the challenge for him has been sometimes in that really busy period when there’s three games a week and in that third game there’s a bit of tiredness sets in. But you see him now, especially when there’s one game a week, he’s so good. A really gifted player. It took me a wee while to get inside of his mind and everything else. He’s absolutely superb. We’re certainly not underestimating him by ourselves because he’s been really, really good this year.”
Cameron Carter-Vickers celebrates with fellow goalscorer Reo Hatate after scoring to give Celtic a 3-0 lead. Celtic v Kilmarnock, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 12 April 2025. IMAGO Photo Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock
Q: He’s entering the last two years of his contract Brendan, I wonder if the club at this time would talk to him about extending that?
Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, I think the club will always sit down with the representatives and Michael Nicholson will be doing that over the course of these coming months with all the players and the negotiations. I’m sure agents will be coming in to see him as well. But yes, a really gifted player and this is his fourth season here. We’ll see what that looks like in the summer.”
Nicolas Kuhn celebrates. Celtic Champions 2025. Dundee United v Celtic, 26 April 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star).
