Brendan Rodgers’ second spell as Celtic manager is proving to be another successful run.
The Irishman returned to Celtic during the summer of 2023, after Ange Postecoglou had joined Tottenham, including winning the Treble in his final season in charge.
Despite that success, Rodgers was always going to put his fingertips on the Celtic team, including changes at the back.
During that summer, two new centre-backs arrived – Gustaf Lagerbielke and Maik Nawrocki – transfers that haven’t worked out since.
Added to that, Cameron Carter-Vickers was the main guy at the heart of the defence, but there were a load of injuries, and it opened a door for a man who thought he had no future at the club.
- READ MORE: Liam Scales states one key difference between Brendan Rodgers and Ange Postecoglou at Celtic
Liam Scales on being ‘dead set’ on leaving Celtic and joining Aberdeen
Liam Scales had just returned from his loan spell at Aberdeen, and the player himself admitted that he expected to go back.
The Republic of Ireland star shared that he was ‘dead set on going to Aberdeen’ and it came to the point where he was ‘almost fighting to get out’ of Celtic, as he told Jack’s Tee Time Talks.
But injuries to the backline meant that Scales stayed put, and he has since ‘kicked on from there’.
“To be fair, I actually thought I was going back to Aberdeen,” said Scales. “That was the plan. I was going to go back there permanently.
“But there were a few injuries. I did pre-season at Celtic, and I had a good pre-season. A few injuries happened, and then I got a chance to play, and then it sort of kicked on from there.
“I was dead set on going to Aberdeen. I was almost fighting to get out at that stage. I just really wanted to play every week, and I didn’t see it happening at Celtic.
“But I got a bit of luck, took a chance, and that sort of (kicked things on).”
Scales’ stats under Brendan Rodgers
Celtic are going to sign Hayato Inamura, and it’s going to be interesting to see what happens with someone like Scales and his game time next season.
The Irishman has become a regular under Rodgers, especially that breakthrough campaign, but you have to say it was more stop-start last season.
Either way, in the overall picture, Scales has served Celtic and Rodgers very well.
- Games: 84
- Goals scored: 4
- Assists: 7
- Clean Sheets: 37
- Trophies: 4
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