Paulo Bernardo leave door open for extended Celtic stay

“The fans are unbelievable and they like me, so I am feeling good,” Paulo Bernardo…

Celtic v Buckie Thistle – Paulo Bernardo celebrates scoring the opening goal of the game during the Scottish Cup match at Celtic Park on Sunday January 21, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan

Paul Bernardo last night addressed his future, leaving the door open to staying on at Celtic beyond his loan spell from Benfica, should Celtic wish to utilise the option to buy that is in place.

“I just think about the present, game by game, how I can improve,” the Portuguese midfielder said. “Then the other things will happen. I am enjoying it a lot. The fans are unbelievable and they like me, so I am feeling good too. I just have to keep going and doing things well.”

But Bernardo also revealed that so far he’s NOT spoken to Brendan Rodgers about sorting out a permanent deal in the summer – it is only January after all! Paul said: “No. He and me just want to keep things going well and to improve a lot.”

Celtic v Buckie Thistle – Paulo Bernardo celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal in the Scottish Cup match at Celtic Park on Sunday January 21, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan, IMAGO / PA Images

On a wild, wet and windy Sunday afternoon in January at Celtic Park with the Scottish weather doing its worst, you might wonder what players like Bernardo and Luis Palma make of these conditions. But from Paulo there was no complaints as he looked back on that 5-0 win over Buckie Thistle.

“It was good,” Bernardo said, as reported by Daily Record. “To win 5-0 was a great way for us to come back after the winter break. It’s our job to score goals. We have to respect the other team and never put the foot on the break. We did that well today. We played a good game and enjoyed playing back at Celtic Park It’s my job to score goals too. I have to do my best. Happily everything is going well for me but I want to do more,” he said.

Celtic v Buckie Thistle – Paulo Bernardo celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Scottish Cup match at Celtic Park on Sunday January 21, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan

“I think I can do better in the second half of the season. I have to improve a lot in my game so I just have to continue to work hard and everything is going to go well. It’s my job to score goals too. I have to continue to improve and score goals and make assists, because now the football is like that.”

And Paulo Bernardo admitted that it’s taken him a while to settle into the style and tactical play at the club that Brendan Rodgers is looking for and having now got to grips with that, we’re now starting to see what a talented player the Benfica loanee actually is.

“Yeah, it’s about how much game time I have. I think now I understand a lot more than I did in the beginning. I feel more comfortable with the team’s tactics and I understand more about the other players too,” Paulo said. And with Reo Hatate due back from the Asian Cup in a few weeks there will be even more competition for a starting place in the Celtic team – that though certainly does not faze Bernardo.

“Competition is always good for the team because it keeps all the players at a good level. It’s good for me and for the team too,” he said.