Celtic’s mid-season trip to Ireland to face Sligo Rovers was a good opportunity for the fringe and academy players at the club to get some minutes into their legs.
Luis Palma impressed as Celtic beat Sligo Rovers 3-2 with a hattrick after the League of Ireland club stunned Rodgers’ side going into halftime 2-1 up.
Palma opened the scoring early on before Kailon Barlow and Simon Power put Rovers ahead 2-1 in a night that Scott Bain will want to quickly forget.
However, Palma was the man on fire as Brendan Rodgers shares the three things he told his players prior to the friendly kick-off in Ireland.
Rodgers says ‘it’s a crime’ fringe Celtic players don’t get enough game time
There was good excitement brewing about the visit of Celtic after the match against Sligo Rovers sold out not long after the fixture was announced and Rodgers explained he delivered to the players as they prepared to take to the pitch.
Rodgers told Celtic TV, “There’s a few things I mentioned to the players a bit tonight. Firstly, it’s an opportunity for some of the senior players because it sometimes feels like a crime for me that can’t play them all because they give me so much every single day.
“So this is an opportunity for them to get some game time and get some minutes in their legs. So that’s good in terms of improving their football fitness.
“And secondly, it’s an opportunity for young players because the pathway into the first team at Celtic, it can’t be easy. It’s a hard path.
“So when you get the opportunity to come and impress, then you want to be able to take them and show your personality.
Brendan Rodgers told his players to go and inspire the next generation of Celtic supporters
As the Celtic players prepared to take the pitch against Sligo Rovers, Rodgers delivered a third message to the players that included his first-ever time watching the Parkhead club as a boy.
Rodgers continued, “But I also think the third thing, and this is what I said to the players, is that it gives you an opportunity to inspire.
“Because I remember 18th of May, I think it was, 1983 when I was 10, I went to watch Finn Harps versus Celtic and 41 years later, I still remember that.
“And I love football, but it’s my first ever Celtic game watching Celtic live and it stayed with me for the rest of my life.
“And it really increased my passion and love for football, but also for Celtic. And so I said to the players that you have an opportunity tonight that in 2065, which is 41, years time that some child who comes here tonight, you will inspire them with how you play and how you behave, and never miss that opportunity and that’s where we want to get.”
Rodges can now give his players a bit of rest and relaxation because after the international break, Celtic have seven fixtures that will really test not only the first-team but also those fringe players that the Hoops boss tried to inspire last night.
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