Manager: We'll freshen up the team and be ready for Dundee United test

Celtic F.C.

·14 de fevereiro de 2025

Manager: We'll freshen up the team and be ready for Dundee United test

Celtic return to domestic action this Saturday when they play host to Dundee United in a vital Premiership match.

Having established a 13-point lead at the top of the table, Brendan Rodgers’ side are intent on increasing that lead with a positive result against the side currently in third place.

Vídeos OneFootball

The game is sandwiched between the two legs of the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off tie against Bayern Munich, and the Celtic manager will look to freshen his squad at the weekend, while still aiming for a strong performance and result.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s game against Dundee United, Brendan Rodgers said: “We’ll do what we’ve done most of the whole season.

'There are some positions we’ll freshen up, and, of course, you can’t not look at Tuesday because the turnaround is so fast and we know we’ll need to be at a real high level physically for that game.'

“But I also know that we need to be at a good physical level for this game.

"Since the last time Dundee United played, we’ve played four games in that period, but we will still bring the freshness and I have to think of that when I’m picking the team, to find the intensity and look to get the result.

“Then, hopefully from that, we then go on to Tuesday, but it’s all about the recovery now and picking the team that can be fresh.

“Every game has a different scenario. Last weekend going into the Raith Rovers game, we’re expected to win, we should win but then we have to perform. So sometimes you’re given performance goals within the game to achieve.

“But every game is important here. The players understand that, and if they don’t initially, they will do and obviously it’s my job to drive that and lead that because I know as well as anyone the importance of, whether it’s Raith or Bayern Munich, or whether it’s Dundee United, every game is a big game here. So we’re always mindful of it.

“The schedule has been unrelenting for us for a long period now, but the players have been brilliant. There’s been nothing other than focus.

"We had the Dundee game at the back end of seven games in 21 days where I felt we just weren’t quite there in our pressing but we take a point and we learn and we move on. But we’re ready and you have to be.

'It’s not the case of, you won’t be tired. You will have moments of tiredness but that’s being at a big club.'

One player who will miss out and Saturday and for the next few weeks is Paulo Bernardo, who picked up an injury in the Scottish Cup win over Raith Rovers last weekend. And while James Forrest has stepped back out on to the training pitch, he is also still a few weeks away from action.

However, Daizen Maeda is fit and available for action following another impressive performance against Bayern Munich, which saw him net in fourth UEFA Champions League goal this season and his 22nd for the season.

“He’s an incredible player and he’s having a remarkable season, and he’s such a joy to work with,” the manager said.

“It’s as much the will to do it because there are lots of players who can run and run fast, but to do it repetitively and to have the will and the desire to continually to do it, and I’m so happy for him that he’s getting the rewards now of the goals.

“His pressing and energy is great but you look at his numbers, you look at his finishing and you look at the calmness now in taking his goals, so he’s a player who’s really high in confidence but we also have to be mindful that he is still human as well, and we don’t want to break players, and that’s what I’ve tried to manage through this whole season.

“So we’ve just got to keep pushing, and on to our next game now. We’re at home and we love to play there, and hopefully it’ll be a great atmosphere and get the energy from the crowd to help the players and keep pushing in all these games.”