The second thing I wanted to see was if he could tactically participate in the game. That’s the big challenge for Mikey because in a one vs one duel, he’s outstanding. He’s very, very good. He can beat a man, but football’s more than that.
Liel and Daizen are both on the pitch now which is great news for us. Daizen is a little bit ahead of Liel but I am expecting them both to be available at some point this month.
It’s ambition. Some players just want to be too comfortable and just do enough, it’s not enough at this club. You have to have that mentality and intensity from that first whistle but the reaction was really good.
It’s not just a quick fix, either. Celtic are weaker than last season and have regressed. The squad’s going to take a lot of work to reach a level needed to make a serious impact in the competition.
This season has been a strange one, pre-season in Japan he looked better than ever but an indifferent 45 minutes at home to Athletic Bilbao at the time of transfer speculation seemed to carry consequences.
Back in August, before losing to Kilmarnock in the League Cup Rodgers explained that his role was to coach and develop the players supplied by the club. On his return he had highlighted the great work by Lawwell Mini, one of the factors that made him decide on another stint…
All eyes are on Lawwell Mini to see if he can buck the trend and deliver players capable of going into the team and improving things rather than bloating the wage bill.
Selling Jota and Carl Starfelt at the same time as Aaron Mooy retired has trimmed quality from the squad. Injuries to Reo Hatate, Liel Abada and Daizen Maeda has left Rodgers with just four or five reliable performers forced into carrying others that are miles short of the standard required.
James Forrest, a scorer in 2019 against Lazio, wasn’t in the squad for Saturday’s draw with Motherwell but Rodgers confirmed that the winger will play tomorrow night.
Strangely, or maybe not there wasn’t a single question about the January war-chest, the exciting signings that the Belgian has identified to add to the squad, to put his stamp on things.