Brendan Rodgers won’t tolerate complacency effecting his plans for the second half of the season.
With a 19 point lead built up over 20 matches the hoops could almost go into cruise control after the break and still finish the season as champions.
With Rodgers calling the shots that is unlikely.
The Irishman has a friendly approachable persona but that isn’t to be interpreted as a soft touch.
Rodgers is demanding and if any player is contemplating giving anything less than 100% there’s at least two others waiting to take his place.
Asked about the danger of complacency by The National while in Dubai the Celtic boss said: “It’s something that we take and put in place strategies in order to avoid that.
“It could be, but certainly won’t be for us. It’s something we’ve prepared for; your talent alone is not enough at a club like Celtic. You have to work, you have to be able to work hard. So for us that’s something that we never disrespect.
“There’s always ambitions for us to become better. Like I say, Celtic is a club easily where if you’re a talent you can be protected, because of other players around you. But if you want to reach levels that we want to reach you have to push yourselves every day and you have to be at your best.
“And unfortunately that will mean some players will have to miss out, because they don’t quite have that relentless attitude. And that will always avoid complacency.”
Celtic return to action at Lennoxtown today as Rodgers prepares for the second half of the campaign which includes the Scottish Cup.
Albion Rovers will provide the first opposition of 2017 as the hoops venture into the Scottish Cup hoping that it takes them all the way to a final at Hampden.
Rodgers has no injuries to report with Kieran Tierney and Tom Rogic playing a full part in Dubai.
It’s unlikely that they’ll be asked to start on the artificial turf at Aidrie on Sunday but with St Johnstone, Hearts and Aberdeen coming up in the SPFL Rodgers will be glad to have both men ready for action.
