Brendan Rodgers is heartened by the hard work and effort being put in by Celtic players and staff at Lennoxtown, believing it sets them up well for a tricky period of matches.
The Bhoys travel to Dingwall on Saturday before travelling to Spain for a match on Tuesday, with positive results needed in both domestic and European competition.
The games are coming thick and fast right now so it’s a case of all hands on deck at the training centre, as well as throughout the squad. Team rotation and extended substitute appearances are essential right now.
Thankfully, Rodgers reckons what he is seeing on a day-to-day basis at Lennoxtown provides hope that the players can cope with what is expected.
Brendan Rodgers lauds Celtic players and staff
He said in a media conference today [Celtic FC]: “It’s a very important period for recuperation and recovery. The sports science team here are outstanding. All the players are well drilled on the nutritional aspects, the recovery aspects, obviously with travel. The guys are prepared for that. The attitude in the squad is very, very good for that. They know they have to recover and be ready for the next game.”
On the subject of fringe players turning out well for the Bhoys, Rodgers continued: “That’s what you want to see. It’s a testament to their professionalism. You can’t come in like Dave Turnbull the other night and play to the level and score the goal he did if you’re not focused in training and working very hard.
“The intensity the players produce every single day is first class. That allows them to be ready when they do come into the team. All the guys that came in midweek made a really important contribution for us.
“The players understand the situation. It’s really hard if you’ve got seven or eight players who aren’t even involved in the matchday squad. But that’s something you have to navigate your way through.
“John Kennedy, who leads our coaching, does a brilliant job in ensuring what the players do on the pitch they’re very much together, there’s no one left isolated even though there are huge numbers. The players deserve huge credit because they come in very professional to work and they know football can change very quickly. You might be outside of it but then you get a chance and you have to be ready.”
Celtic came close to dropping points on Wednesday night and had the attitude of incoming substitutes not been at a high standard, that could have been a reality when the full-time whistle was blown.
It was great to see strong hunger and desire in players such as Hyunjun Yang, Hyeongyu Oh and Odin Holm. Indeed, it was the latter pair who combined to fire the Bhoys to the win.
It’s heartening that Rodgers believes this is a direct result of what he sees in training every day. It means efforts like that should be repeatable over the coming weeks and months as Celtic really get stuck into the meat of the season.
In other news, Unexpected transfer link for Celtic as Brendan Rodgers puts January plans in place.
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