Brendan Rodgers Discusses Champions League Performance, Player Contracts, and Squad Fitness Ahead of Kilmarnock Match

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers addressed the media in advance of his team’s Scottish Premiership fixture against Rugby Park on Sunday. The key points from his press conference included: Rodgers affirmed his agreement with the characterization of Tuesday’s Champions League victory over RB Leipzig as a “generational game.” He viewed this achievement as the culmination of efforts spanning the past 12 to 16 months, stating that the performance level made him “so proud.” He stressed the current focus on sustaining that level as the team aims to achieve its Champions League goal of reaching the play-offs. Rodgers believes Celtic has demonstrated they are “a good side” in three of their four Champions League performances this season, with the exception of the significant defeat away to Borussia Dortmund. He downplayed the notion of needing to prove critics wrong after the Dortmund loss, instead emphasizing his players’ “courage” to recover from that result with a draw at Atalanta and then a decisive win over Leipzig. Regarding the upcoming match against Kilmarnock, Rodgers commented that playing against a Derek McInnes team is “always tough.” He anticipates Kilmarnock will be “well-organised and super motivated.” Rodgers indicated that “we would want to tie down” right-back Alistair Johnston to a new contract. While he praised “influential” Greg Taylor, he noted that there is “nothing as of yet” concerning a new deal for the Scotland international. Rodgers expressed optimism about having the same squad available that played in the victory against Leipzig. Auston Trusty and Cameron Carter-Vickers were both absent from training on Friday as a “precaution.”