The Celtic Star asked both Adam Idah and Brendan Rodgers three questions each at the media conference at Lennoxtown on Friday afternoon ahead of the vital Scottish Premiership match against St Mirren at Celtic Park in Saturday afternoon.
You can read about our question to Adam Idah and the Ireland international’s answers HERE.
READ THIS…“Every single person on that bus was amazed,” Adam Idah on that Ibrox send-off
Now we’ll turn our attention to the three questions to Brendan Rodgers. We asked the Celtic manager for his thoughts on that incredible send-off given to his team last Saturday at Celtic Park, got his message to the support for the title run in plus we got Brendan’s views on how Celtic would do in English football and an update on his thoughts about Mikey Johnston…
The Celtic Star: Brendan, what did you think of the fans on Saturday afternoon turning up at Celtic Park, and what impact did it have on the players?
Brendan Rodgers: “It was a big impact. It was absolutely amazing. They told me here that when we get to the stadium there’ll be a couple hundred supporters there to greet us. Then I got a call as I was coming up towards the stadium saying they’d miscalculated it, and there were a few more!
“When I turned in and I saw the lights and everyone it was such a huge lift. Did it surprise me? No. The support of the club is incredible and without being able to be at the stadium, that was their way of giving us a great send-off. I know – especially a lot of the new guys – were taken aback by that, as was I, because it gave us that real lift driving away.”
The Celtic Star: What’s your message to the support for the remaining games of this season?
Brendan Rodgers: “Just Keep The Faith and keep giving us that incredible support, because it really makes the difference. I’m sure there’ll be some edgy moments in the six games and in the cup game, but just keep the faith and keep with the team and give us everything, and we’ll give you everything back on the pitch. ”
The Celtic Star: Mikey Johnston has just won the Championship Player of the Month. I asked Adam about how Celtic would perform in the Championship and to compare the two divisions. What are your thoughts?
Brendan Rodgers: “I would echo those thoughts. We’ve shown what we can do. You look at Atletico Madrid the other night in the Quarter-Final of the Champions League and we ran them very close, certainly in the home game. The size of this club would always make you compete well in the Premier League. You’d have all the resources and all the finances involved that would see you up there towards the top of the league.
In terms of Mikey, shifting onto him, I’m absolutely delighted for him, because he’s a young player that I always said I rated highly. It’s been a challenge for him the past couple of years with injuries and having to go out on loan to play.
“The first six months of his time here, I said to him ‘Just prove that you’re fit and have the fitness level to sustain and train every day and be able to be available for games.’ In fairness to him, he did that, and by the end, he was contributing for us.
“He really needed games, he’s 24 years of age and needed to get out and play. What he’s shown and demonstrated is no surprise. I said it before, he’s one of the best talents to come out of the academy. He’s quick, he’s direct and he can score goals.
“For him to go there and get that award – with some outstanding players in the Championship – it shows you how well he’s done. Hopefully, he can continue with that and come back to here in the summer and be really energised again and full of confidence and be ready to make an impact.”
The Celtic Star’s questions start midway through Brendan’s media conference…
