“The three goals we scored were outstanding,” Brendan Rodgers

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The Celtic Star

·30 marzo 2025

“The three goals we scored were outstanding,” Brendan Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers spoke to the media after Celtic defeated Hearts 3-0 yesterday afternoon. The Hoops are now three wins away from a fourth consecutive league title…

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers arrives prior to the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Hearts at Celtic Park on March 29, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: What did you make of your team’s performance this afternoon?

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Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, very good. We needed to respond after our last home game here and it’s never easy when you come back after the international break. Lots of players away, lots of travel, but I thought the connection with the team was very good, especially the first half. The three goals we scored were outstanding and then we were able to control the second half.”

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Daizen Maeda after scoring during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Hearts at Celtic Park on March 29, 2025 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: I feel like we’re talking about him every other day now, but Daizen Maeda with two goals and a hand in the other one as well. Another brilliant performance from him, he’s up to 30 for the season now?

Brendan Rodgers: “Not bad for someone who isn’t supposed to be a goalscorer. So, yeah, I think wherever he plays, he’s so honest to the game. If he’s on the side, he’s pressing, he’s getting in behind, looking to cross. If he’s through the middle, he’s penetrating centrally. I just spoke to him today about the set-up in the first half, he just needed to have the extra touch, just to link the game a little bit better. I think what everyone’s seeing now is the actual, his finishing quality. There’s a variety in his finishing, he’s getting in to score, he’s 1v1, he finishes left foot, right foot, scores a header against (the)Rangers. He’s got a real good repertoire of finishes.”

Daizen Maeda of Celtic scores his opening goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Hearts at Celtic Park on March 29, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: I remember when we were speaking about him a few weeks ago, a month ago, you said when he came into the club, if you look at his goals, he actually was a striker and he could post really big numbers, but he hadn’t done that at Celtic in terms of his 30 goals he’s at now. Did you always see him as a player who could score 30 goals and more in a season?

Brendan Rodgers: “Listen, I haven’t got a magic ball, but I knew that before I came in here and I looked at the players I was going to work with, I looked at his history in Yokohama and looked at his numbers and seeing the types of goals. And then if you think back to that first pre-season out in Yokohama, he scored a hat-trick. I could see then his movement, his runs, his finishing. But obviously, of course, we had Kyogo here and we’ve got Adam here. I always like to have a presser at the top end of the field who has real intensity to the game. For me, he brings that and he brings the runs and he brings the goals. So, no, I can’t sit here and say yes, but we always knew he had the talent to do it.”

Q: Is that his position now, Brendan? You see him playing the striker from you from now on, but regardless of what happens in the summer, who else you bring in, is he now a striker for you?

Brendan Rodgers: “Well, I think he can be. I think it’s one where to replace, to move him onto the side and take him out of the middle, with all due respect, it’s probably easier for us to get a top winger than it is a top striker. But he clearly can play the position and I’m so happy that he can.”

Celtic v Hearts, Scottish Premiership 29/03/2025. Elton Kabangu of Hearts holds off Jeffrey Schlupp of Celtic during the match at Celtic Park on 29 March 2025. Photo Malcolm Mackenzie/ PSI

Q: How well is Jeffrey Schlupp playing at the moment?

Brendan Rodgers: “I think he’s got more to come. I think he’s come in, Jeff, and it’s not that Greg hadn’t been playing well, but I think when we put him into the team and in those Champions League games vs Bayern Munich, he was outstanding. But he’s still getting to grips with being on the inside, being outside. He’s had a few months at it. Greg’s had a few years at it and has been superb. And will get some games also. I’m really pleased with Jeff. It’s been a big move for him, coming to a big club. Expectation is huge here, but I think he’s settled in really well.”

Q: He’s just told us if there’s a possibility of him being here next season, it’s something he’d look at?

Brendan Rodgers: “I bet he would! He’s 32, coming to here, coming to Glasgow. I think it’s something between now and the end of the season we look at, but don’t commit too early! Or else they go a bit soft. He’s a great boy. I knew what I was getting. He’s a good guy, but more than a good guy, he can perform and play. Like I said, I think there’s more to come. We obviously know we have Kieran Tierney coming in the summer, who’s high, high level. And we know that we’re going to have to have someone else if Greg Taylor moves on. My ideal was always to keep Greg, and still is. But we have to see how the last few months develop.”

Greg Taylor. Motherwell v Celtic, 2nd February 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou

Q: That’s obviously quietened down with Greg. To your mind though, is there still a chance that something could be done there? Or are you leaning towards the idea that he might be on his way?

Brendan Rodgers: “I’ve been in the position so many times. And I can read situations as well. It’s probably more that he’ll move on than stay. Which is a big shame for me, because he’s someone that I really, really like. I love him as a person, but I love his game. Because I think his game is suited to how we work. It’s not financial, it’s not anything, but I respect his position. Because he’ll want to feel that he’s playing, player every single week. Whoever is in next year with Kieran will still play a lot of games. My feeling is that he may well move on. But I know between the end of the season, he’ll give his all.”

Celtic v Hearts, Scottish Premiership 29/03/2025. Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo during the match at Celtic Park, on 29 March 2025. Photo Malcolm Mackenzie PSI

Q: Viljami Sinisalo made a good save in the first half?

Brendan Rodgers: “He did. There was a wee deflection from the corner when it came in. I thought he was excellent. I really like his authority. We’ve seen him as a young keeper that could come in, have a season investing in being an understudy, from learning from a top keeper and the mentality of a very top keeper, knowing that he wasn’t going to play so much. I’ve seen him grow from pre-season, where he was good in the games. He played a game here before, didn’t have a lot to do, but he was assured. And you see him today, comes in, it’s a big game, Celtic vs Hearts. Makes the save, but important, he can take the ball and knows the lines of pass. I thought he was excellent. So really pleased for him and a clean sheet.”

Q: Are you any clearer on how long you might have to use him?

Brendan Rodgers: “No, I spoke to Kasper last night. He’s got a scan on Monday. We don’t believe it needs an operation. But it’s just going to be about how long it takes for it to repair and heal. So, we should know more on Monday. Obviously, we want Kasper back, but it’s an opportunity for any player, especially a young goalkeeper. So, I’m happy if Vil has to play.”

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