Brendan Rodgers drops startling Celtic fixture schedule confession as Hoops boss looks ahead to Aberdeen test
The disgruntled Celtic boss believes football is heading towards becoming a ‘12-month sport’
Flabbergasted Brendan Rodgers is expecting his Celtic side to be playing competitively all-year round before too long - claiming football is slowly becoming a “12 month sport.”
The Hoops boss has been busy preparing for a hectic schedule of games after the international break, with a visit from joint Premiership leaders Aberdeen at Parkhead this Saturday before Champions League clashes with Atalanta, RB Leipzig and a Premier Sports Cup semi-final showdown with the Dons at Hampden. The Parkhead club also have to factor in league clashes with Motherwell, Dundee, Kilmarnock, Hearts and Ross County before November is out.
“Yes, there’s definitely more football crammed into shorter timeframes,” Rodgers stated. “Looking forward, I think football is heading towards becoming a 12-month sport. Players may not only get rest in the summer, but at different points throughout the year.
“There are more games and higher demands on players. They love playing, but we want to maintain quality in every match. We’ll continue to prepare the players as best we can, motivating and inspiring them to perform well, and so far, they’ve done a fantastic job.”
Rodgers will come face-to-face with Dons boss Jimmy Thelin for the first time this weekend, with the Swede currently matching his opposite point for point so far this season as both sides prepare to put their 100 per cent unbeaten record on the line in Glasgow’s east end.
“I’ve not met Jimmy before, but his work speaks for itself,” he said. “His team is well-organised, defending in a 4-4-2, and they work incredibly hard off the ball. When they have possession, they look to build from the back and progress through the thirds. They have a good mix of talented and experienced players.
“Aberdeen is a club that’s always expected to be near the top. During my first spell here, they were always in finals and challenging at the top of the league. Jimmy’s come in, looks calm on the touchline, and the players have responded well.”