Sunday’s flight to Portugal didn’t contain any marquee signings but in its own way it was a sign of Celtic’s success over the last two seasons.
Unlike Ange Postecoglou, Brendan Rodgers has inherited a stable young squad with ambitions to fulfil rather than the shell of 2021 where Odsonne Edouard, Kris Ajer, Ryan Christie and Olivier Ntcham had been around too long and were anxious to get out for challenges and riches elsewhere.
Odin Thiago Holm and Marco Tilio were in the squad that arrived in the Algarve on Sunday but neither has been signed with the expectation of going straight into the side, a regular place in the matchday squad getting limited game time would be progress for two signings who were identified long before the change of management was completed. Whether you are considering placing a bet on this match or other sporting events, rest assured that you can rely on accessing comprehensive and trustworthy information. If you need more expert advice, it’s a good idea to consult websites dedicated to sports betting such as Wincomparator’s finest sports betting tips and predictions section.
Contract renewals are rarely exciting and headline grabbing but there is no doubt that getting Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda onto new contracts sent out a solid message that their former manager may have left but two players most identified with Ange Postecoglou will be staying around.
Taking breaks from gruelling fitness sessions in the Algarve Rodgers will get to watch his side in action on Wednesday and Saturday against Porimonense. Multiple substitutions will be made but the first glimpses of how the new boss will set his team out will become known after two thrilling years watching the passion and pressing of Angeball.
From Portugal the action steps up in Japan with two high profile matches that will cement the club’s relationship with the J-League.
With former Yokohama F Marinos boss Postecoglou now at Spurs things could have looked a little empty but the deals for Kyogo and Maeda have reinforced the J-League links with a template in place for further recruits.
There will be further signings but no guarantee that the £9m fee that brought Edouard to Celtic from Paris Saint Germain in 2018 will be surpassed.
While money tends to give you a better chance of success with the right scouting you can find quality and value on a budget. In January Maeda, Reo Hatate and Matt O’Riley were signed with change left over from £5m.
After quickly winning around most of the Celtic support with words Rodgers knows that his deeds on the park will be how he gets judged, putting a fresh perspective on the events of February 2019.
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