Brendan Rodgers came back to Celtic in June 2023, and he’s looking forward to a long stay. His loyalty here would be based on Celtic staying focused on continuing to develop him. Rodgers currently only has one year remaining on his present deal. He has held constructive conversations with the important people at Celtic, namely majority shareholder Dermot Desmond and chief executive Michael Nicholson, over his future. As the club prepares to defend its Scottish Premiership title against St Mirren this Sunday at 4:30 PM, live on Sky Sports Football, Rodgers outlined his vision for the team moving forward.
Rodgers is adamant he isn’t a no-frills caretaker manager and is keen to go further than last season’s encouraging achievements of laying a platform for future successes. Departures The team won a double last season but were hit with a tough off-season, especially the loss of key personnel. He accepted that the gaps needed to be filled if they were to stay competitive in the league and with the playoff push.
Positive Discussions With Club Leadership
Brendan Rodgers has already had encouraging discussions with Dermot Desmond & Michael Nicholson over the long term vision Celtic’s future direction should take. These conversations have mostly focused on the club’s ongoing drive to recruit players and therefore as a club remain ambitious. While Rodgers remains committed to his role, he emphasizes that the club must demonstrate a willingness to invest in its future.
“I have to convince the board to really push to get the players in that we really need.” – Brendan Rodgers
Like Rangers, Celtic too underwent a radical transformation within its own squad, losing important pieces, like that of Kuhn and Kyogo. Speaking of key players, Jota isn’t expected back until early in the new year. This presents an urgent opportunity for new signings to strengthen the core of the team before next year’s campaign.
Chris Sutton, a former Celtic player and current pundit, commented on the situation:
“When you lose important players, you want to fill those gaps.” – Chris Sutton
Rodgers is no stranger to these challenges. He’s more interested in a great squad, one capable of challenging for the deepest competition available.
Building on Last Season’s Success
A year ago, Celtic cruised to a 16-point lead in the Scottish Premiership with a 16-2-0 start through 18 games. That outstanding run helped put an end to almost any title race in the early season. In the ultimate cruel twist, after claiming a treble – no double – Celtic lost the Scottish Cup final to border rivals Aberdeen.
Rodgers is hell bent on doing that and a whole lot more. His goal is clear: he wants to lead Celtic back to their dominant form while ensuring that they are fully equipped for any challenges ahead. In October, he said he didn’t view himself as a caretaker manager.
“My overriding feeling is I want to help the club continue moving forward. I’m not the type of manager to just maintain something; I’m not the right guy to have.” – Brendan Rodgers
The need to attract fresh blood has never been more urgent, especially given the club’s lofty aspirations going into this season. The introduction of Jahmai Simpson-Pusey on loan from Manchester City will be the first of many that fill those glaring holes now and in the future.
The Upcoming Season and Its Challenges
Celtic are making preparations for their first homegame of the season with St Mirren. None more so than Brendan Rodgers, who understands the importance of getting the new campaign up and running with a bang. The match should serve as a vital turning point for the team. Like any championship team, their supporters are hungry to see them defend their title.
He is still hopeful, but he knows the hard work is just beginning. The exit of several major players has created some confusion among fans and analyzers. All of a sudden, the team’s depth is what’s being challenged. Scottish pundit Chris Sutton recently brought this issue to the fore by commenting on Celtic’s ongoing, much less frenetic transfer window compared to that of their opponents.
“If you’re a Rangers fan, you’re quite encouraged by the lack of business that Celtic have done.” – Chris Sutton
Rodgers is adamant that he’ll honor his contract. He firmly believes that with the right support and strategic player acquisitions, Celtic can continue to thrive in Scottish football.
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