Q: Playing three games a week, how does that affect your work on your training pitch?
Brendan Rodgers: “It just limits it of course in terms of the intensity of which you can work, like you say. You play on Wednesday night you travel back, most of the squad and players would have got home about half five in the morning and then you’re recovering the rest of Thursday, then you’re in today to recover and do some light bits of technical work, go through the tactical analysis in here with the players and then you’re straight into the game. I think for a lot of us, when you’re at a big club, you have to get used to it, it’s part of the challenge. It’s the rhythm of games, recovery, play games and then like I say, it’s where your squad comes into it.”
Reo Hatate of Celtic Crvena zvezda v Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Football, Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia – 24 Sep 2025Belgrade Rajko Mitic Stadium Serbia Photo Nikola Krstic Shutterstock
Q: Everybody okay from the other night?
Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, we’ve got Reo Hatate as a question mark, but apart from that, we’re virtually the same.”
Q: What’s the issue with Reo?
Brendan Rodgers: “He felt a bit tight in his hamstring, so we’ll just have to monitor that, and I’ll find out this afternoon where he’s at.”
Q: Obviously, we spoke about the attack you had before how do you feel about the midfield and that part of the team how that’s functioning at the moment?
Brendan Rodgers: “I think all those guys in midfield, there’s a purpose why you carry so many at a club like this here because you know that when you get into the thick of the games you need all the energy, you need all the qualities and the ability to change the game if needed. I think in the early part of the season, if you’re playing one game a week, it can be tough. I said before that we’re trying to find rhythm as a team but all those guys will play a part absolutely. Then it’s up to yourself to then take that opportunity when it comes but yeah, we’ve got a good squad of players in there and they’ll all be used.”
Anthony Ralston of Celtic FC in action during the Como Cup match between Ajax and Celtic FC at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on July 24, 2025 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Q: How are your injured players Brendan? Tony Ralston back?
Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, Tony trained at the beginning of the week. He obviously travelled with us and he’s available for tomorrow. Auston Trusty had his first day back with the training group today. Alistair Johnson will hopefully be joining us soon, but clearly not ready yet.”
