BRENDAN RODGERS faces an almighty scramble to sign new players in time for the first leg of the Champions League play-offs a week on Wednesday.
The Celtic manager has until midnight on Thursday to strengthen his squad for the crucial ties that could open the gateway to a £40million bonanza in Europe’s most prestigious tournament.
Rodgers, who was delighted with his team’s performance in the 2-0 Premiership win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie yesterday, will discover their opponents after Slovan Bratislava host Kairat tomorrow night with the visitors 1-0 ahead from the first leg in Kazakhstan.
IN THE RED…an impassive Brendan Rodgers watches Celtic beat Aberdeen 2-0 at Pittodrie.
Quizzed about the possibility of at least one new recruit before the transfer cut-off, the Hoops gaffer answered: “We’ll see. Look, I think I’ve been open all the way through where we’re at, but our job between now and the end of the window is to make Celtic the very best that we possibly can.
“And in the meantime, we’ll continue to develop the players who are here and improve them. And we’ve had two tough games to start.
“St. Mirren at home, a really tough team to break down. Aberdeen away. We’ve had two clean sheets, played well, and I know we’ll get better as the season goes on.”
Asked if that means he would be happy to go into the play-offs with his current squad, Rodgers, speaking to Sky Sports, continued: “It doesn’t really matter. It’s what is in the building and, of course, I want Celtic to be with the very best possible players that there can be.
THREE CHEERS…Reo Hatate is all smiles as team-mates Cameron Carter-Vickers and Benjamin Nygren congratulate the midfielder after his stunning goal to make it 2-0.
“And, for me, that’s always signing players at the top end of the pitch. But if they’re not there, we’ll work with the players who are there, make them the very best they can be.
“So, yeah, I’m not going to keep commenting on it. We know where we need to strengthen. We know if we want to be the best that we can be, we have to.
“And in the meantime, the players here are working and looking very, very well and we’ve had two very good performances and results.”
Reflecting on the victory in the north-east with new Bhoy Benjamin Nygren claiming his first Celtic goal with the opener which was followed by a screamer from Reo Hatate, Rodgers added: “We controlled the game and dominated it.
“We had two outstanding goals, had other opportunities to make it even more comfortable and their keeper also made some really good saves.
“Then, when we had to defend, we were really strong – our two centre-halves, and then even Auston Trusty coming into the game, as well.
“So, as a team, I thought we were excellent. We played with a lot of quality and a lot of heart – and that pleased me.”
