“Adam’s top class. He’s been brilliant since coming in,” Liam Scales

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The Celtic Star

·31 January 2025

“Adam’s top class. He’s been brilliant since coming in,” Liam Scales

Liam Scales on Celtic good character to get themselves back into the game after conceding to Aston Villa in both of their first two attacks…

Liam Scales, Dens Park, Dundee v Celtic. 14th January 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Liam Scales gave his thoughts following Aston Villa 4-2 Celtic in Brendan Rodgers’ side’s final Champions League Phase outing, praising fellow Irishman Adam Idah who scored both of Celtic’s goals in an incredible match at Villa Park. Here’s everything that Liam Scales had to say in the media room at Villa Park…

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Q: Can you sum that game up for us? It was quite something, wasn’t it?

Liam Scales: “Yeah, it was frantic. I think we had a slow start, but they came out of the box really fast. In the first two attempts, they got two goals, but I think we showed really good character to get ourselves back in the game. They started the half a bit better than us in the second half. And I think we sort of came off the levels and when you play against really good teams you don’t really get away with that. So that’s the way it went. But we did show really good character to get back into the game, and we can take positives from that.”

Morgan Rogers battles for possession with Celtic defender Liam Scales during the Champions League match between Aston Villa and Celtic at Villa Park on 29 January 2025. Photo Manjit Narotra PSI

Q: What went through your mind when they take that early two-goal lead?

Liam Scales: “I think we kept doing what we had planned to do. We had planned to match them up man-for-man across the pitch. That didn’t change. Obviously, it’s disappointing to go behind like that. It gives you a massive uphill battle. But we just kept doing what we usually do. It worked for us, but at the end of the day, it was just a little bit too much.”

Q: You matched them really well for spells, though. How much confidence does that give you going into the play-offs, albeit that could be a toughie against Real or Bayern?

Liam Scales: “It’s never going to be easy at this level, but it does give us confidence. Because we know if we play well and we do what we plan on doing, we can give any team problems. That gives us confidence, we just need to tidy up in areas and maybe just start halves a little bit better. I think that will help us.”

Liam Scales of Celtic during the UEFA Champions League Matchday, Aston Villa vs Celtic at Villa Park on 29th January 2025 Photo by Gareth Evans/News Images

Q: Can I just ask you about the squad? Obviously, Jota coming back. What does he bring to the squad, certainly with that next European level in mind?

Liam Scales: “Yeah, it’s great to have him back. I think he’s eligible to play in the next games. It’s great to have him back. He’s a quality player. I think everyone’s seen the quality he had last time he was here. Hopefully, he can just slot right back in and do well for us.”

Q: Talk to us about Real Madrid or Bayern Munich. Have the boys spoken about it? Is there a team you’d prefer?

Liam Scales: “No, not really. They’re world-class. It’s going to be an amazing experience for both. We just want to go and do the best we can against either team.”

Q: Do you believe that, given those two goals out there from Adam in quick succession, you got back into a game that was almost like it was getting away from you? Does that show you that you can do that?

Liam Scales:“Yeah, 100 per cent. I think the first 20 minutes, we were slow, we were poor. Then we imposed ourselves physically on the game after that and we made it more of a battle and that really worked for us. It’s just a shame that we started so slow because if we didn’t, we could have found ourselves ahead when Adam scored. But there’s no point dwelling on it now. There are positives to take out. There are also things we can work on, but there’s definitely positives.”

Celtic fans celebrate with an Irish flag during the UEFA Champions League match between Aston Villa and Celtic at Villa Park on January 29, 2025. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Q: How much has the team grown in these eight matches?

Liam Scales: “Yeah, loads. We’ve got a lot of good results. I think the difference between last season’s Champions League campaign and this seasons has been night and day. We’ve been a lot better. We’ve been a lot stronger defensively, I think, apart from the Dortmund game. We’re creating chances and scoring goals. We’re being really competitive in all the games, so it’s been a really positive one for us. We’re really happy to have a play-off now, to get out of the league phase. It’s a massive achievement, so we’re delighted.”

Aston Villa v Celtic Champions League 29/01/2025. GOAL scores 2-1 Celtic forward Adam Idah 9 scores and celebrates with Celtic defender Liam Scales 5 during the Champions League match between Aston Villa and Celtic at Villa Park on 29 January 2025. Photo Manjit Narotra

Q: Two goals for Adam Idah tonight. How impressed were you, given that he’s maybe struggled in front of goal recently, but he got those two goals tonight in quick succession?

Liam Scales: “Yeah, they were good finishes, the first one especially, instinctive. It’s a brilliant finish. I’m delighted for Adam because all he needed was to hit the back of the net. He’s doing everything else right. He’s still working hard and holding the ball up for us and linking play. It was just about him hitting the back of the net and he’s done that now, so I think he’ll kick on and keep scoring for us.”

Q: With Kyogo gone, do you think that Adam can be the club’s number one striker going forward?

Liam Scales: “Oh yeah, without a doubt. Adam’s top class. He’s been brilliant since coming in. He’s obviously gone through a little bit of a spell without scoring many goals, but that happens to all world-class strikers. It happens to everyone. I think he’s the man to lead us.”

Conor Spence

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