The Celtic Star
·27 March 2025
Video: Paulo Bernardo positive injury update gives Celtic major boost

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Yahoo sportsThe Celtic Star
·27 March 2025
Paulo Bernardo of Celtic leaves the pitch injured during the Scottish Cup match between Celtic FC and Raith Rovers FC at Celtic Park on February 08, 2025 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
The Portuguese midfielder suffered an ankle injury against Raith Rovers in the Scottish Cup. Initially both the player himself and his manager Brendan Rodgers thought that the injury was nothing too serious but that changed when the scan results showed it was clearly a longer term lay-off in store.
That frustrating lay-off is now over as Paulo Bernardo confirmed at Celtic Park this afternoon that he is fit and available for selection but accepts that at this stage playing 90 minutes might be a big ask.
Paulo Bernardo of Celtic leaves the pitch injured during the Scottish Cup match between Celtic FC and Raith Rovers FC at Celtic Park on February 08, 2025 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
“I can play football again so I am excited. The injury was bad but I recovered very well and hopefully I can play from now on,” Bernardo said. “It has been a while outside of the pitch so probably not 90 minutes. But I will try my best to do what I can if the manager wants me to play.
“The injury was bad, but I recovered very well, and hopefully, I can play from now on. It was bad when I saw the results of the scan, because I thought it was a short-term injury, and it wasn’t. So, it was a little bit bad, but I had the opportunity to recover well and to work on other things that I couldn’t do during the season.
“It was a good time to recover and to do other things, too.”
Paul Bernardo with the Premier Sports Cup after Celtic’s victory over theRangers on 15 December 2024 at Hampden Park. Photo Kenny Ramsay
Like every other player, Bernardo wants to play in every game but ultimately accepts that the coach will decide.
“Yes, I think every player wants to play all the games and these games are special, and we want to be part of them. But yes, I try to support my teammates from outside and try to give them the support they need. We as a team still have some goals to achieve, and we will try our best to complete them as soon as possible.
“For me personally, I want to have good games before the end of the season and try to do my best every game. Each opportunity that I have, I will try to give it all on the pitch.”
On the game at the weekend Paulo said: “We know that Hearts will be a difficult test but we will do our best.”
Paulo Bernardo n action at Tynecastle. Hearts v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Tynecastle. 23 November 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
“I’ll try my best to do the best as I can, if the coach wants me to play or not. It’s always disappointing to lose a game, but I think we have a very good season. We are 13 points ahead of second place. It’s been 30 games in the league, and I think we have lost three.
“We are excited to go again after the international break. We know that Hearts will be a difficult game, but we will do our best and we will learn from the other games what we can improve, and we will try to do it. With the supporters on our side, it’s always easier to play.”
The hacks asked about theRangers game and there was a few questions about Jota and it finishes off with a question on the Champions League.
Paulo Bernardo in action during the Premier Sports Cup Final victory over theRangers at Hampden on 15 December 2024. Photo AJ for The Celtic Star
On playing with Jota he said: “I’m looking forward to playing with everyone. But yes, Jota, it’s nice to have him here with me. I speak a lot with him, so I think we are a good double (pair), too. I spoke with him after he re-signed, but not before. I think he was really excited to be here again.”
Here’s Paulo Bernardo’s media conference with the mainstream media. “We know that Hearts will be a difficult best but we will do our best.”
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