Brendan Rodgers spoke to Celtic TV earlier this week and looked back on not only the Scottish Cup quarter-final win over Livingston on Sunday, but also on the season so far. The Celtic manager admitted this season has been his most challenging in his entire career in football management.
Asked if he was surprised at how tough it has actually been the Celtic manager gave a frank assessment of the challenges he’s faced. He points to the number one factor in the situation that has developed this season.
“Yeah, it has surprised me, maybe because of what I felt the first time when I was here,” Brendan Rodgers told Celtic TV. “The feeling has felt a little different. The biggest frustration has just been the inability to put out the strongest team.
“It’s just felt, from the very beginning, you want to have your best players available and put them on the pitch, in order to showcase the best possible football you can play, because you play for the supporters.
The biggest frustration
“That’s who we want to entertain. That’s been the biggest frustration, that constant inability to be able to do that.”
Cameron Carter-Vickers is set to return this weekend against St Johnstone. Reo Hatate is back on the training pitch. And the Celtic manager can also expect the return of both his captain Callum McGregor and winger Luis Palma after the international break.
Keeping these four fit along with everyone else and at long last Brendan Rodgers will be able to put his frustrations behind him. He can at long last play a full strength Celtic side. This team would be in a very strong position to win the double for Rodgers and make it a season to remember after all.
Strongest Celtic Team
Joe Hart in goals, a back four of Alistair Johnston, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Liam Scales and Greg Taylor, a midfield three of Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate and Matt O’Riley and a front three of Daizen Maeda, Kyogo and Luis Palma.
