Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has hailed the intensity and quality of his squad’s pre-season work in Portugal, stating that the heat and schedule are bringing the players to some “uncomfortable” places.
Celtic have been at the state-of-the-art Campus facility on the Algarve since Sunday and depart this weekend before making a trip to Japan for a double-header against Yokohama F.Marinos and Gamba Osaka.
It’s been hot and humid in the Portuguese sun but, for Rodgers, it’s the perfect environment to truly test his new team ahead of the Scottish Premiership season. But it sounds like it has been hard going for the Bhoys.
Speaking to Celtic TV today, the manager said: “The players and the staff are my priority for this early part of the pre-season, just to make sure we can set the standard early on. I have to say, everything has been superb – the mentality of everyone.
“We’ve come away now to Portugal and the trip has been really, really well organised. The staff have been fantastic and the players – we’re working them really, really hard because it’s so hot here. We’re really getting them uncomfortable and that’s what is needed at this stage of the pre-season.
“The players have come back in a staggered fashion because of the internationals but they’re really working so hard now they’re together. It’s a real challenge when you’re from back in the UK and you get out to this heat to work on that intensity.
“We have to be mindful of it as well, they’re working hard, but we can never put them in danger because it’s so hot. But the mentality has been superb. I expect them to get uncomfortable, they’re getting themselves uncomfortable and we’re really pushing them to get this base of fitness for a really exciting and challenging season ahead.”
It’s heartening to hear that Rodgers is taking the players to their safe limit, ensuring that standards don’t drop one bit from the incredible treble-winning campaign of last year. Despite a change of manager, these players are as focused as ever on delivering success for the fans.
Rodgers goes on to praise John Kennedy, Gavin Strachan, Stevie Woods and Harry Kewell in his interview, acknowledging the work they are putting in to ensure continuity between eras. The manager is also one who likes to get stuck in on the training pitch too, so this is a valuable period for the team.
With a gruelling trip to Asia coming imminently, matches against teams mid-season in a similarly warm environment and more training sessions, the hard work isn’t stopping any time soon.
In other news, Celtic closely monitoring goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic; dazzled at the World Cup.
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