BRENDAN RODGERS may be on the brink of a world record-breaking ninth treble, but the Celtic boss insisted “change is needed” at the champions.
The Irishman could see the Hoops win their fourth successive title this weekend if they beat Kilmarnock at Parkhead tomorrow afternoon and their nearest challengers from Ibrox lose to Aberdeen at Pittodrie 24 hour later.
The club claimed the Premier Sports League Cup in December and will face St Johnstone in the Scottish Cup semi-final a week on Sunday with the silverware showdown scheduled for Hampden on May 24.
However, Rodgers is adamant the squad needs to be strengthened to keep the players fresh and eager.
The Celtic gaffer, who didn’t attempt to hide his frustration after last weekend’s 1-0 loss in Perth, said: “It’s all about improvement. I think naturally what you have at our club is a natural slide of players who move out and come in every three or four years.
“It’s the nature of our model here, but it’s also the nature of players being here and maybe either looking to move on or want to come away from the pressure that’s here, because three or four years of it, it’s a lot of pressure.
“But we always have to be ready to replace any players who go. But, obviously importantly for us, is improvement.
“We always want to improve the team, improve the hunger in the team.
“That’s always key. You need the freshness.
“It’s either that or the manager goes. It’s simple, there’s no rocket science in it.
“You cannot be at a club for a long period of time with the same group of players.
“Likewise, the same group of players need a different voice. But at this moment, it’ll be about improving the squad.”
Rodgers, speaking to Celtic TV, continued: “I think change is needed. I think that’s that freshness, that new energy coming into your squad that alleviates any of that sort of complacency.
“So, we will bring players in to challenge the squad and the team for the summer.
“That’s natural at any team. However this team does at the end of the season, we want to improve it. Because, like I said, if you just sit on that, then the team needs the competition.
“So, either way, we will look to improve the squad.
“If we’re going to be champions, then we want to show why we’re a champion. We want to have that mentality, strong performances.
“I spoke before about sprinting over the line. And for us, as we’re getting over the line, everyone is anticipating that it will be done. But it’s not done until you actually get the points.
“Part of my frustration last week was the opportunity to win that at home.
“I think the last time we were able to do that, I was lucky enough my first time here, it was 2018.”
A determined Rodgers added: “We have supporters travelling all the way around the world, following us up and down the country, everywhere. And it doesn’t happen often.
“So, the opportunity to be able to come into tomorrow’s game to win the title would have been a great tonic for the supporters.
“However, it wasn’t to be. So, it’s now about preparing now for the game tomorrow, putting in a strong performance, which we will need.
“And then we keep collecting the points until we are champions.”
The team boss has watched as Celtic, after losing just one domestic game in 2024, nosedive to four defeats in 2025.
Time to stop the rot, Brendan!
