Celtic have provided supporters with a new Brendan Rodgers interview today, at the end of the first week in pre-season for the Bhoys.
A number of players returned to the Lennoxtown training base at the start of the week. However, the international players were given extra time off and won’t start training until heading out to the Portugal training camp this coming week.
So it was a chance for Rodgers to take a look at some of the less senior players as well as a group of youngsters coming through Lennoxtown who made up the rest of the squad in sessions. And the new manager has shared he’s been pleasantly surprised by what he has witnessed so far, especially from the inexperienced group, who are managing to match the intensity of established professionals.
Rodgers said [Celtic TV]: “Now in the modern game, very rarely do you get all your players back at the one time. So that always gives you a chance to see the young players. I’ve got to say, I’ve been really, really impressed with both the established guys in the first-team squad – their attitude is outstanding, they’ve come back in a really good condition, they’re really fit so that gives us the chance to build on on that.
“And the young players, of course, a lot of them I haven’t known. They’ve been pleasantly surprising. They’ve been really, really good. Sometimes a young player can come in and suffer with the intensity of the training with the first team, but they’ve all coped really well. So that’s been pleasing.”
Next season is a big one for players such as Rocco Vata, Bosun Lawal and Ben Summers – all of whom spent spells training with Ange Postecoglou’s outfit last season and made their debuts.
They’ve outgrown the Lowland League, so if they aren’t going to get regular football with the Bhoys then a development loan could be on the cards.
But they’ll certainly get this summer to impress the new manager more. Game time in friendlies over the next few weeks is very likely and then Rodgers will be able to make a determination on how to best use them.
He’s clearly pleased after first impressions, so good luck to all the young Bhoys eager to make an impact.
In other news, Marco Tilio on how first Brendan Rodgers Celtic meeting went.
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