Brendan Rodgers Media Conference – “Well, it’s on to the next game”

Q: What’s the key to getting Michel-Ange Balikwisha connected to the rest of squad and get the best out of him?

Brendan Rodgers: “Just time, time. I think Sebastian Tounekti’s come in and just been fantastic. Sometimes that shines the torch on other players, and everyone thinks that everyone should be like that. It’s not always the case. Some people come in and hit the ground running; it’s great. For Balikwisha, I don’t think there’s any doubt over time he’ll prove his worth and show that. It’s really difficult, at the biggest clubs, to judge the players in that first year it’s so, so hard. You come into the demands of a club like this here, the personality that’s needed. You would love them all to just come in and hit the ground running but there’s so much that goes on to a move. We know his talent, he was scouted for a long time. There’s enough evidence there by our recruitment team to show that he’s a really gifted and talented player. So in time, I’m pretty sure he will show that.”

The Celtic Star: Brendan, you talked about putting the summer behind us and moving forward, looking forward to the season. That’s what the supporters want to do as well. The only thing stopping that is communication with the club. We can’t understand why the club can’t come forward and speak to the supporters who put more money into the club every year than any of the sponsors behind you?

Brendan Rodgers:“I think that is something that I’m pretty sure the board and executive team are looking at in terms of ways to better communicate with supporters. I haven’t spoken to the guys today or yesterday, but I know that coming out of the window that was one of the key objectives, to engage more and speak more with supporters. I’m pretty sure in time that will be the case. In the modern life, the modern world, communication is absolutely vital. It can stabilise lots of things in life having that clarity and sometimes you have to be harsh, to be clear, but you’re better being harsh and communicating than not saying anything. So I think it’s definitely something the club are looking into, looking at how the comms aspect can improve relations because there’s absolutely no doubt that’s what supporters want. As the manager and executive board, we’re looking after the team and the club for you guys.”

The Celtic Star: On looking forward has there been anything discussed so far about changes that are going to be made for the January transfer window so that we can avoid similar dramas of the summer window?

Brendan Rodgers: “I really hope so. At this moment in time, for me, the scouting team know exactly what we’re after and what we missed out on in the summer market. So again, a lot of work going on into that. It’s a smaller window, of course, so you have to be slick, you have to be prepared and ready and look to get the business done as early as we possibly can. So I’d be hopeful that we could learn from that and hopefully close that out better in the January window.”

The Celtic Star: Anything on your new contract?

Brendan Rodgers: “Nothing as of yet, no.”

Conor Spence

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