Brendan Rodgers will not “beg” players to come to Celtic as he looks to streamline his squad while adding quality.
The Hoops boss will use the next two transfer windows to reach a place where he is happy with his group in terms of numbers and ability.
Speaking after the club’s AGM at Celtic Park, the Parkhead manager acknowledged the challenge of attracting quality players to Scottish football but outlined the huge opportunities of playing for Celtic, who are currently eight points clear of Rangers at the top of the cinch Premiership.
“I don’t want to add to the squad, we have a squad of 32 which we need to bring down as well as bring in quality players,” said Rodgers, who will assess Honduras attacker Luis Palma and Canada full-back Alistair Johnston when they return from international duty on Friday ahead of the cinch Premiership game against Motherwell on Saturday.
“But I am fairly comfortable that over the course of these next few windows that the squad both in terms of numbers and quality will look how I want it to.
“There will, naturally, be players who will want to go out and play, players who want to move on and we have to see if the players that are better than what we have are available to bring in. I can’t give you a number but there is always movement.
“It is always the challenge because lots of players will want to play in a more competitive league or more renowned leagues.
“But what Celtic offers here is really unique in terms of the opportunity to come and play for a fanatical fan base, to come and develop as a player, to become a winner, to live in a great city.
“There have been many players and managers, that once they have been here – and sometimes it is only when you are here – get that real sense of that.
“So we will always work hard but we won’t beg players to come.
“This is an incredible club to play for and if you are lucky enough to be able to come here and work and play you will get the sense of that. So that is something that is ongoing.”
While happy with his side’s domestic form this season, Rodgers believes Celtic’s Champions League position – bottom of Group E with one point from four fixtures ahead of their game against Lazio in Rome next Tuesday night – is not a reflection of their performances.
The former Liverpool and Leicester boss, who returned to Celtic Park for a second spell as boss in the summer following the departure of Ange Postecoglou to Tottenham, said: “From the Champions League perspective, I think there is a narrative around, I sense a little bit, the overall start.
“I think the players have been fantastic. If you take away the second half against Atletico Madrid, the players have been very good, the players have been excellent and getting better each performance.
“Very co-ordinated, you see the spirit in the team and in the other games we have been really competitive, even against Feyenoord with nine men.
“So I understand where we are at, it is a level where you have to have quality and experience, but experience also comes from gaining experience.
“But there is no doubt we have to be stronger going forward over the following seasons here, that was one of the big drivers to come back.”
Simeone delighted with Le Normand return after traumatic brain injury
Diego Simeone was delighted that he was able to welcome defender Robin Le Normand back to the starting XI for Atletico Madrid's 3-1 Copa del Rey victory over Cacereno.
Le Normand had not played since his side's 1-1 draw at home to city rivals Real Madrid in September, in which he suffered a severe head injury following a collision with Aurelien Tchouameni and required extensive treatment on the pitch.
Thursday's match against fourth-tier opposition was his ninth appearance since joining the club from Real Sociedad in the summer and Simeone was pleased to see the Spain international back on the pitch.
"We are very happy that he is back with the team," Simeone said.
"It is normal that he needs that time to get back to playing, he will need that time playing, training and competing to be at his best. We are waiting for him and we need him, he is a very important player for us."
The match itself was not as straightforward as Atleti would have liked, having gone a goal down after half an hour.
It took an 83rd-minute Clement Lenglet goal to draw level before an effort from Julian Alvarez and an Adri Perez own-goal in stoppage time secured Atleti's passage through to the next round.
Having taken until the 81st minute to get ahead in their 2-0 victory over sixth-tier Vic in the previous round, Simeone explained he had been expecting it to be a tough test.
"We had been through it with Vic. They are not easy, Girona, Villarreal, Espanyol have been eliminated. It is not easy. The teams have enormous enthusiasm, they work together as a team, they get a goal that raises their enthusiasm. It is not easy to keep it up until the end," he said.
"The game was as expected, a great cup game, with a very hard-working opponent. When you show little decisiveness you run the risk of losing. We have to improve in that part."
Kaheim Dixon wins Chicken George Goal of the Month and scores brace against QPR
Jamaican forward Kaheim Dixon has been awarded November's Chicken George Goal of the Month for his sensational strike in Charlton U21s’ dominant 9-2 victory over Wingate & Finchley. Dixon’s remarkable goal, which saw him control the ball with his thigh, flick it over a defender, and unleash a left-footed finish from 20 yards, highlighted his extraordinary talent. The goal was one of four he scored that night, earning him accolades and selection by CharltonTV’s Steve Brown as the award winner.
Dixon continued his impressive run of form on Tuesday, scoring twice in Charlton U21s’ 6-3 victory over Queens Park Rangers U21 in a Professional Development League Two clash. He opened the scoring just five minutes into the match, finishing a pass from Kai Enslin with precision. His second came 15 minutes later, a composed strike following another assist from Enslin.
Dixon also turned provider before halftime, setting up Enslin’s hat-trick with a perfectly timed pass across the box, showcasing his all-around contribution to the team’s success. Charlton went into the break with a commanding lead, though QPR fought back with three goals in the second half. A late goal from a Trialist in additional time secured the victory, extending Charlton’s unbeaten streak to six games.
The Jamaican international’s outstanding performances in recent weeks underscore his potential as a rising star. With his flair, composure, and ability to deliver in key moments, Dixon continues to establish himself as a critical player for Charlton U21s. Fans and teammates alike are eager to see how his season progresses as Charlton prepares for their next match against AFC Bournemouth.
Conte justifies decision to make 11 changes in Napoli cup defeat at Lazio
Napoli head coach Antonio Conte has justified his decision to make 11 changes to the starting lineup for Thursday's 3-1 defeat away to Lazio in the Coppa Italia round of 16.
The 55-year-old suggested that the tournament gave him the opportunity to avoid injuries to players and make assessments on others as he rested everyone who started last weekend's 1-0 win at Torino.
The result of Conte's selection was a 3-1 defeat at the Stadio Olimpico, with Tijjani Noslin scoring a hat-trick to knock the visitors out of the competition.
"We made a very well-considered choice, we have a long season ahead of us. We can't make the sign of the cross and hope that no one gets injured," Conte told reporters.
"These are matches where we wanted to make assessments. After this match you will make your assessments, I will make mine, and the club will make its assessments. Evaluations are subjective and mine are the most important."
Serie A leaders Napoli face Lazio again on Sunday, this time at home, and are four points ahead of their fifth-placed visitors.
"It will definitely be a different game, we'll be playing at home and in a different competition," said Conte.
"Lazio is definitely a very good team and also equipped to play in the Europa League. They have a valuable squad as demonstrated again today. We will try to play our game."
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