“We are in a really good place. Everyone is fit and healthy,” Brendan Rodgers

The Celtic Star

·1 November 2024

“We are in a really good place. Everyone is fit and healthy,” Brendan Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers spoke to the media this afternoon ahead of tomorrow’s mouthwatering Premier Sports Cup semi-final between Celtic and Aberdeen at Hampden…

Cameron Carter-Vickers, Kyogo and Alistair Johnston of Celtic after the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Dundee FC at Celtic Park on October 30, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The top two sides in the Scottish Premiership both bring an unbeaten domestic record to the national stadium and one way of another, only one side will leave with that intact.

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Celtic will be favourites and will as usual have the backing of a magnificent support, but under Jimmy Thelin Aberdeen are much improved and look like a side that fancy their chances in every game that they play. It promises to be a great advertisement for Scottish football and fingers crossed Celtic can get the victory to the back to Hampden to make history next month.

Here’s what Brendan was saying today…

Brendan Rodgers of Celtic before the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Dundee FC at Celtic Park on October 30, 2024 . (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: Can we start with the team news? Are Callum McGregor and Adam Idah both back?

Brendan Rodgers: “We are in a really good place. Everyone is fit and healthy. We’ve only got one in Odin (Thiago Holm) who’s been out for a little while with his calves. Other than that, I’m really happy that we’ve managed to get through this period now in a really healthy way. So, all is fine fitness-wise.”

Q: It is a different competition but it is a game that you will not need much motivation for, isn’t it?

Brendan Rodgers: “Having played them a couple of weeks ago, we can see that they are a really good side. They have done so, so well this season. It’s a semi-final and everyone going into a semi-final wants to get to the final. So, we are really looking forward to it. We are in a really good place as a squad and as a team, and we know the challenge of a semi-final.”

Aberdeen Manager Jimmy Thelin applauds the fans at full-time. Final score Aberdeen 2 Rangers 1. Aberdeen v Rangers, Scottish Premiership, Pittodrie, Aberdeen, 30 October 2024. Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock

Q: It’s two weeks since you played them in the league was that game a warning as to what Aberdeen can do?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, it was a game that we should’ve won. I’ve been pretty clear on that in the game and especially analysing the game afterwards. We were 2-0 up in the game and had other chances, and we got punished for our slackness in the first 15/20 minutes of the second half. So, that showed us if you’re slack and you are not concentrated in your defending, you are not committed in your defending then they’ve got quality players that can hurt you. We saw that with the two goals they scored especially the first one. That has to be learned, and it will be. It was something that we were able to talk about afterwards and coming into this game. Even then, in the last 20 minutes, we had chances to win the game, however, what we do know is that we will have to play really well to get to the final.”

theRangers manager Philippe Clement walks off the pitch with his players at full-time. Final score Aberdeen 2 Rangers 1. Scottish Premiership, 30 October 2024 Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock

Q: It was a big result for Aberdeen in midweek. Are you surprised by their form this season?

Brendan Rodgers: “No, no. I think it’s a great credit to them. In the first 10 league games they have played with consistency and done well. They’ve got really good players, Jimmy Thelin has come in and he is a good manager and he’s done a fantastic job. They’ve got a really good coaching staff behind the scenes as well. And I always expect Aberdeen, because of my time not here the first time, to be up there challenging. Derek’s (McInnes) time up there was a great period. I always expect them to be there. To see them up there is not surprising. When I see how they play and how they perform, they are playing very well.”

Celtic v Aberdeen – Celtic’s Reo Hatate celebrates scoring the first goal of the game during the Scottish Premiership match at Celtic Park on Saturday October 19, 2024. Photo Jane Barlow

Q: What did you learn about Aberdeen in the 2-2 game with Celtic that you can take into tomorrow’s match?

Brendan Rodgers: “Well, like I said, I think we have to be really concentrated and committed in our defence. I think when we pressed the game well, we created opportunities and we could dominate the ball. When we didn’t, I think when you look at the first goal. When we analysed it back. For our level of pressing and our standard, it wasn’t at the level. Whether it was just because it was after halftime or not, I don’t know. It certainly wasn’t to the standard that we would expect and would want. So if we do that against good players and technical players, because they can run in behind, then that can hurt you. They finished that opportunity and gave them the momentum for the next 15 minutes or so.”

Q: The League Cup is the only domestic trophy that eluded Celtic last season does that give you more impetus going into this semi-final?

Brendan Rodgers: “It certainly gives us hunger. We missed out on that one last season. A year down the line we are in a far different place to last year. So our hunger is there to reach our first final. We were really disappointed this time last year when we didn’t and we weren’t up to challenging for that trophy but we are for this one. We had a great opportunity tomorrow to get there.”

Q: If my maths is right, this will be the 13th time taking Celtic to the national stadium. Is that a feeling you ever get used to?

Brendan Rodgers: “No. It’s always been a great joy to go there. I think, for me, I’ve always treated it like it’s my first time. I mean, that’s been my mindset. Whether it’s 13 or whatever my mindset is always I am excited about being there and seeing half the stadium full of Celtic supporters with the opportunity either to win a final or get to a final. It’ll be no different tomorrow.”

Brendan Rodgers with the League Cup in November 2016, his first trophy as Celtic manager. Photo Vagelis Georgariou.

Q: It’s been a happy hunting ground for you in the past how do you use that experience of winning there to ensure you help the squad and the team?

Brendan Rodgers: “I just think it is ensuring that you stay calm in your approach. It is that balance between being really super aggressive when you haven’t got the ball and feeling that real hunger to get the ball and being really defensively organized and then playing with that calmness and speed when you have the ball. So that’s something that we’ve always preached. I think leading into this, any final obviously, we’ve had a midweek game. The concentration was on the Dundee game and then we can flip quickly onto this game. It’s been very focused for us every game is a big game. So the matchup for us this week isn’t so much different. When you’re a Celtic player or manager, every game is huge. It’s a semi-final at Hampden which is also a big game.”

Brendan Rodgers with Scott Brown holding the League Cup in November 2016, Brendan’s first trophy as Celtic manager. Photo Vagelis Georgariou.

Q: Is it special for you because it was the first trophy you won as the Celtic manager?

Brendan Rodgers: “It was brilliant. It was a great feeling back then and in that first time when I was here as we played ever so well in the final. I think it gave the supporters a little bit of trust in me that we could win and that I was here to win. Likewise this time as well. It eluded us last year and that didn’t sit comfortably with us. So we have a chance now and that’s what we want. We look to bring our game and bring that running game very strongly to a good surface.”

Cameron Carter-Vickers in training at Lennoxtown. Photo Celtic FC

Q: You have got Cameron Carter-Vickers back. Does that leave you a decision to make as Liam Scales and Auston Trusty have done very well in his absence?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes. I’ve got a few decisions to make in terms of the team. I think all the players have value in playing. Every player because a lot of the guys have been playing have shown good value in how they’ve been playing and how they’ve been performing. There will be a role for them all at some point but of course, sentiment doesn’t come into it. I need to pick what think is the best team to win this game and I will do that.”

Q: Your main concern is Celtic but how good is it for Scottish football to have Aberdeen playing like this and challenging at the top of the league and competing for silverware? Do you think it is a good thing in general?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, I think it’s brilliant. It’s great, Whether it’s football or whether it’s business any competition is healthy. That’s what makes you better. You always drag your own standards and your own standard of performance, absolutely. The competition is really, really healthy and it can keep moving you forward. Aberdeen are up there fighting and everyone will expect Rangers to be up there at some point alongside other teams, the two teams from Edinburgh will feel that they want to be up there challenging as well. I think the more competitive the league it can help improve you.”

Q: Have you watched Aberdeen’s game against Rangers? It didn’t reinforce any of the opinions on the threats that they will pose, did it?

Brendan Rodgers: “I’ll be honest, I haven’t watched it. I’ve seen what other analysts have brought through. I’ve watched the game and we only played them a couple of weeks ago, I think if there was a big distance between the games I would have watched it. I’m not going to watch it but I’ve seen what our analysts and the guys have prepared and it’s no different to what we saw a couple of weeks ago. We’ve done all the analysis. We did a deep analysis after our game with Aberdeen and obviously, I’m adding to that some of the things that we’ve seen during the week. We’ve done all that and then we’ll play our game.”