Hayato Inamura: “He’s not quite at the level as of yet,” Brendan Rodgers | OneFootball

Brendan Rodgers spoke to The Celtic Star at yesterday’s media conference at Celtic Park ahead of this evening’s Champions League playoff encounter against Kairat Almaty…

Paulo Bernardo of Celtic arrives at Celtic Park. Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Premiership, 10 May 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock

With the mainstream media guys asking question upon question about transfers, I didn’t want to agitate the manager any further, so I touched on where he sees Paulo Bernardo fit into the current side and whether the Portuguese playmaker is finding it difficult due to the competitiveness of the current midfield depth.

Also, given that Hayato Inamura was absent from the Champions League 25-man squad, it was necessary to find out why Rodgers decided against including Celtic’s summer signing despite Kieran Tierney being the only current natural left-back within the squad.

Brendan’s answer to my question regarding Inamura seems to have split opinion on social media given the Japanese defender impressing during pre-season.

Here are the two questions and answers from my exchange with Brendan Rodgers at Celtic Park yesterday ahead of this evening’s UEFA Champions League Playoff match at Celtic Park against Kairat Almaty….

The Celtic Star: Paulo Bernardo didn’t feature in the opening two league games and you gave him 15 minutes on Friday. Where do you see him fitting into the Celtic side and the competitive midfield area?

Brendan Rodgers: “Well it’s exactly that. It’s a very competitive squad in our back line and in the midfield area. He’s one of a number of good players that we have in there and sometimes how it works in football, the ones that aren’t playing, you get asked, and then it switches about.

Paulo Bernardo at Ibrox. theRangers v Celtic, 4 May 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

“I think what we see in this early stage, and especially when there’s been one game a week, that the team sort of stays pretty similar. I obviously changed it against Falkirk knowing that we’ve got this game, knowing we’ve got a game Saturday and then a game on the Tuesday, so it’s quite tight, so I needed to make sure some of those players that might play those games are up to speed. But I think once you get then into Europe, you need every player.

“And Paulo’s a very talented player, and he’s one of a number of talented players in midfield,” Brendan Rodgers told The Celtic Star.

Hayato Inamura of Celtic Cork City v Celtic, Pre Season Friendly, SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork, Ireland – 08 Jul 2025Cork SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh Ireland. Photo Lorraine O’Sullivan Shutterstock

The Celtic Star: And there was no room for Hayato Inamura in your Champions League squad. Can you just elaborate on that decision?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, very easy. He’s not quite at the level as of yet that I would expect. The plan for Inamura was to come in and train and see where he was at with the possibility of going out on loan because he’s only had a year’s football.

Hayato Inamura of Celtic Cork City v Celtic, Pre Season Friendly, Football, SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork, Ireland – 08 July 2025 Cork SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh Ireland Photo Lorraine O’Sullivan/Shutterstock

“He came in as a centre half stroke left back, but his defensive qualities aren’t at the level that would see me put him in. So it’s as simple as that. So that’s why he’s not involved.

“He’s played in some really good games against Cork and Queen’s Park, but the reality is that’s the level that you play, you get 80% of the ball and you’ve got the ball. But we also need a player that can defend. And we’re hoping that over the couple of years with experience and with maybe a loan, that can that that can take place.

Franck Kessie of AL-Ahli and Hayato Inamura of Celtic FC in action during Como Cup match played between Al-Ahli and Celtic FCat Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on July 26, 2025 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

“But at this very, very moment, that’s why he’s not in the squad. It’s as simple as that.”

Watch this exchange and the rest of Brendan’s media conference below…

Conor Spence

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