Champions

RODGERS HAIL UCL PLAYOFF QUALIFICATION

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Brendan Rodgers is excited that his Scottish top flight champions’ side qualified for the Champions League playoff stage after seeing off Rosenborg. James Forrest handed them the required points with his stunner in the 69th minute.


Celtic were not at their best in the first leg at home. They were not still at their best away but they were more spirited than their hosts, getting the decisive goal late in the second half. The Scotland international went agonizingly close earlier in the game before he finally got his sole goal to hand Celtic a 1-0 aggregate win.

Rodgers praised the performance of the team despite the limitations ahead of the duel.

“It was a big performance. Take away the win, what was important for me was the maturity. This time last year I was going into these games with a hope that we could go through, to try to find a way.

“To come out here and play to that level with that composure – everyone was talking about the pressure of the game so to play that way was sensational, really,” the former Reds boss said. Continue reading “RODGERS HAIL UCL PLAYOFF QUALIFICATION” →

Hayes agree to join Celtic

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Aberdeen midfielder Jonny Hayes has agreed to join Celtic on a five-year deal.


This will be a big disappointment for Cardiff City’s manager Warnock as he was hoping to bring the player to the club.

Hayes said that he is happy to have joined a club such as Celtic and that he is looking forward to playing under his old manager Brendan Rodgers. Indeed the former Liverpool manager coached the player while they were at Reading.

Neil Warnock was another manager that was interested in the club, and he was desperate to bring Hayes to the Championship. He made two attempts to sign the players last season, but unfortunately for him, Aberdeen has rejected both. He made another attempt this year as well, and again the club refused to let him approach the player.

Jonny Hayes said that he is looking forward to meeting his new teammates and to play for his new club. He stated that Celtic is a big club and that he is excited to participate in the Champions League with them. He said that he might need some time before getting acquainted with his new surroundings. Continue reading “Hayes agree to join Celtic” →

Rodgers proud of players

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers said that he is proud of his players after they equaled a record for being unbeaten. This is a record that is held by the legendary Lisbon Lion in 1967.


Brendan Rodgers said that this is a proof that the side is improving and that they have managed to equal a record that is so hard to achieve. He stated that he is so proud of his players and that they have worked hard to achieve this.

He said that the record shows the character that the players have and also the desire to win games. He said that the match against St Johnstone was not easy and that they had to fight for every ball in order to win the game.

Rodgers said that the Lisbon Lion are a legendary team and that they have achieved a lot at Celtic. He said that equaling a record set by this team is a major achievement and that each player should be proud of themselves. Continue reading “Rodgers proud of players” →

CELTIC MANAGER GIVES UP CHRISTMAS DAY

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Brendan Rodgers has revealed he plans to sacrifice his rare Christmas Day off to spend his time with those less privileged.


The Celtic manager plans to travel back home after lending a hand at the Northern Ireland Hospice, where he is an ambassador.

“We have a lot of games this month and after Hamilton on Christmas Eve, I’ll travel back to Northern Ireland after the game.

“Then on Christmas Day I’ll spend time with the Northern Ireland Hospice as I’m an ambassador there,” the former Reds boss said.

He would spend Christmas morning with the families and the children of those who are terminally ill, after which he will proceed to have Christmas dinner with his family. He would then fly back first thing on Boxing Day morning.

Rodgers attributed his charitable nature to his upbringing and also from the fact he has been a victim of family tragedy with the lost of both his father and mother at tender ages. Continue reading “CELTIC MANAGER GIVES UP CHRISTMAS DAY” →

Brendan Rodgers is delighted by Celtic’s draw against City

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On September 28, Celtic received Manchester City at the Celtic Park as both clubs had to face off for a Champions League and this match concluded with each side scoring 3 goals as the scoreboard displayed 3-3 at the end of it all.


This match was one of the most exciting Champions League games in recent times as plenty of goals were scored and there was not any club that had the clear upper hand.

After everything was said and done, both teams had to settle with snatching 1 point each out of this game and even though Celtic FC needed a victory in order for them to begin their march for a higher spot in Group C of the Champions League which consists of: Barcelona, Manchester City, Borussia Monchengladbach and Celtic.

This draw was still a fairly positive result for Celtic as they managed to hold their ground against one of the favorites of their group and Brendan Rodgers had a few things to say after the match was over as the 43 year old Northern Irish manager said:

“I can’t criticize the team, but there are always elements we can be better in. We were brilliant, the pressing and the energy. Every time we went forward we looked like we could score.Apart from the Barcelona game these players have been operating at a high level this season. Now, to do it against that team, it was a magnificent performance. Continue reading “Brendan Rodgers is delighted by Celtic’s draw against City” →

Brendan Rodgers: Celtic Need to Rely on Home Support in the Champions League

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers due to the initial aim of reaching the group stages of the Champions League by overcomingHapoelBe’erSheva in the final qualification round.


This earned the club a place in the group stages much to the joy of Celtic supporters. The club has been disappointed with its inability to make it to the Champions League group stages for the last two seasons despite having been involved in the play-offs. However, the joy has been short lived since it has now been revealed that Celtic will be in a group containing Barcelona, Manchester City, and Borussia Monchengladbach.

This is the toughest possible group and Celtic are nowhere near favourites to even finish in the third spot. Despite the rejection with such a tough draw upon their return to the Champions League group stages, manager Rodgers says that Celtic still have a chance if they managed to take advantage of a home games. Celtic’s support at the Celtic Park is regarded as one of the finest and has played host to numerous shocks over the years. Rodgers says that they will once again be the centre of attention and how to help the players immensely when the likes of City and Barcelona visit to the ground.
Continue reading “Brendan Rodgers: Celtic Need to Rely on Home Support in the Champions League” →

LUIZ SUAREZ: KOLO TOURE WILL DO WELL IN CELTIC

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Former Liverpool forward Luiz Suarez has backed his former team mate Kolo Toure to become a success at his new club, Celtic FC.


The Barcelona striker says the Ivory Coast international is a great addition to the Celtic squad and believes the player will do well with the Scottish champions. Toure will add real value should the side qualify for the UEFA Champions League group stage this forthcoming season.

Celtic will play the second leg of the third round of qualifying games against Kazakhstan this week. They have a slight advantage after the 1-1 draw in the first leg thanks to a late goal from Leigh Griffiths. The club is set to feature the player when they play the Champions League qualifier against Astana.

On the other hand, Suarez will face his former manager Brendan Rodgers at the International Champions Club on Saturday. The game is set for the Aviva Stadium in Dublin but the Uruguay international says the former Arsenal and Manchester City player will be a big plus for Celtic FC.
“He knows what it is like to play in the big games in the big stadiums, and if Celtic can progress into the Champions League, he’s going to be very important player,” the player told reporters when asked about Toure.
Continue reading “LUIZ SUAREZ: KOLO TOURE WILL DO WELL IN CELTIC” →

Bertie Auld believes that Celtic should appoint Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane as manager

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Celtic legend Bertie Auld has urged the team to appoint managerial duo Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane as manager for the club.

He believes that major changes are needed in the team if they want to compete not only in Scotland but also in Europe.


According to him, Martin O’Neill has the tactical knowledge and awareness to drive the team forward and that Roy Keane will provide the discipline needed to keep the team together and motivated to achieve great things.

However, with both men committed with the Republic of Ireland national team until the end of Euros, it might be difficult for them to get involved with Celtic this season especially with the Hoops participating in the Champions League as early as July.

Bertie Auld has advised however against the fact of signing Martin O’Neill alone as he thinks that there needs to be some sort of balance in the team. He has also urged the Celtic board to release fund for the new manager to rebuild the team. Continue reading “Bertie Auld believes that Celtic should appoint Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane as manager” →

Ronny Deila is on the journey of reinforcing his team

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Ronny Deila has set himself the task of improving his team which can help in their quest of securing the Scottish Premiership title for the 5th successive season and one of the ways that Deila is going to be upgrading his squad is by signing new players to the team.

A few of the players that are rumored to be in the radar of Ronny Deila are Wout Weghorst of Heracles and Eibar’s Aleksandar Pantic.

Aleksandar Pantic is a Serbian defender who is currently performing for SD Eibar on loan from Villareal. Pantic has had a mixed season with Eibar as the central-defender used to be a consistent starter for the club but has recently had to settle with a place on the sidelines as an unused substitute.

If Pantic continues to struggle trying to land a spot in the main team of Eibar, he could be tempted on making a move away from the Spanish club where his chances of landing a role in the first squad is possible to be bigger and better than what it currently is.

Wout Weghorst is another one of the potential targets of Celtic’s Ronny Deila. Weghorst is currently performing for Heracles and at the young age of 23, he has already attracted the attention of other clubs including Cardiff City. Continue reading “Ronny Deila is on the journey of reinforcing his team” →

Inter Milan and Celtic FC pitted in EL

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Inter Milan and Celtic FC have been pitted together in the Europa League as those clubs are some of the last 32 that are still alive and competing in the European tournament.

In terms of which team has won the won the Champions League or the Europa League on most occasions, the Italian side Inter Milan certainly does have the edge however, when you compare how both teams have been performing in the last few weeks then Celtic has an advantage as the Scottish team is on their way on winning their 4th successive domestic league title meanwhile Inter Milan is struggling in the middle section of Serie A.

Celtic sealed their 5th consecutive victory in the Scottish League after claiming a 3-0 triumph over Partick Thistle as the club is on dominating form and the manager Ronny Deila believes that his team can pull off a stunner and knockout Inter Milan from the Europa League when they meet each other on February 19 and 26. Continue reading “Inter Milan and Celtic FC pitted in EL” →