Nicolas Kuhn was brought to Celtic in January from Rapid Vienna and is keen to establish himself with a full pre-season behind him.
The 24-year-old has made an impression at Parkhead despite being in and out of the starting line-up, registering three goals and three assists in 18 fixtures [Transfermarkt].
Now back to work in pre-season, he earned some valuable minutes against Ayr United last Friday and will hope to follow that up by starring against Queens Park tonight in the Bhoys’ second pre-season friendly.
Brendan Rodgers had high hopes for Kuhn when he joined, which is something I’ll touch on later down the line. However, the German winger has paid tribute to his manager and why his calmness is the ideal recipe for success.
Nicolas Kuhn delivers glowing Brendan Rodgers appraisal
When asked about what life under Rodgers has been like and how his career can further develop under the Irishman, Kuhn shone a light on the manager’s meticulous way of working.
He said [Celtic FC]: “I think, also, the first talks I had with him were really good. He can help a lot, and while there was a lot of pressure (in the second half of the season). I think he showed us and was the role model to stay calm and believe in what we are doing. At the end, we showed that the plan is the right one.”
Rodgers didn’t deviate from his trusted style or panic in moments of doubt last term, which led to the Bhoys claiming a domestic double.
Committing to a plan and being willing to see it through helps forge an identity that can become important in times of need. It may have taken a while for the boss to impose his ideals properly on the group; however, every single member of the dressing room bought into his message.
Authority and trust are intrinsically linked; if you don’t have both cogs of the machine working in tandem, there isn’t a vice to grip when difficult moments require a reaction. Rodgers saw Celtic over the line and will be determined to do so again this season.
What Brendan Rodgers said after Nicolas Kuhn’s arrival
Conceivably, Rodgers’ comments on Kuhn’s arrival back up plans for the winger to be a mainstay among the squad this campaign, as he has now had time to adjust to life at Parkhead.
Back in January, he stated: “We believe he is a dynamic player who has an excellent level of quality and all the attributes to fit well into our style of play.
“He has the profile we are looking for, he has a real attacking intent, a player with great pace and ideas, the ability to create and score goals and a player with a great energy and work ethic.
“He is someone who can play wide on both sides, so he brings with him that versatility for us too, and myself and the coaches here really look forward to working with him.”
Rodgers clearly believes in Kuhn and his abilities from an offensive standpoint. Hopefully, the former Rapid Vienna man can show everyone why he was brought to the club in the forthcoming campaign.
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