Brendan Rodgers reckons Celtic must ‘stay focused,’ ahead of a packed schedule across three different competitions between now and March…
This afternoon Celtic will face Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership in what will be Rodgers’ side’s first of 11 matches from now until the end of January.
Previous Hoops teams in recent season have been afforded the luxury of a warm whether training camp at this time of the year in preparation for a return to competitive action after the first half of the season, but with no winter shutdown this campaign, Celtic will play straight through January, into February and then the early stages of March before the next international break.
Huge games and a heavy schedule upcoming
With important league games on the horizon including a trip to Ibrox next Thursday, two mammoth Champions League encounters at the end of January against BSC Young Boys and then Aston Villa, as well as a Scottish Cup fourth round tie with Kilmarnock – Celtic will be battling on all fronts next month having already won the Premier Sports League Cup against theRangers earlier this month.
Using the squad has never proven to be so crucial for Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers and with a gruelling schedule ahead, that is exactly what he is planning on doing over this important period of games.
It used to be amazing to have that break
The Celtic manager said: “There is no winter break this year and that is what I loved about Scottish football! It used to be amazing to have that break. It still is amazing here, but we don’t have that rest period now.
“March is the next break for the players, and we just need to keep grinding away. We need to stay focused, and the boys have been brilliant in that sense. We have to prepare well and do our analysis. A lot of work goes into getting ready for all the games, but we are used to it now. That is life at a big club when you are a player and manager. But look, we will enjoy it.”
Celtic v Motherwell on Boxing Day
The Scottish champions will be aiming to return to winning ways today following a disappointing 0-0 draw with Dundee United on Sunday at Tannadice. And, with first-team regulars returning from illness, the Hoops will most definitely look in a better shape squad wise against the Steelmen.
READ THIS…Celtic v Motherwell – Team news, referee details, KO time & where to watch
“We would all love to play 90 minutes of high-intensity football in 60 games a season. But that’s not humanly possible,” Rodgers explained. “Sometimes you just have to grind out the wins and more often than not, this team have done that. We didn’t manage to do it on Sunday but took our point and now we move on to Motherwell.”
A return for CCV and Trusty
“Cameron [Carter-Vickers] and Auston [Trusty] should be back. They did some work on the bike on Sunday and all being well they should be available. We have so many games and we will need everyone available.”
Conor Spence
Celtic in the Thirties
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