Brendan Rodgers has been speaking to the media as his Celtic side prepare to face Hearts on Saturday.
Here are the main points:
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Rodgers is “really pleased” with Alistair Johnston’s new contract and can tell he loves being a Celtic player. There’s nothing close with Greg Taylor but Rodgers “really wants him to stay here”.
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On Nicolas Kuhn’s potential to get into the Germany squad, Rodgers says the winger “can’t do much more” to impress Julian Nagelsmann.
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On his own Celtic future, Rodgers says: “I said I’d be here for three years. At the end of three years I’ll have done nearly six years. I haven’t really thought about it. For nearly a year there were probably more people who wanted me out than in so I’m not going to be talking about new contracts now.
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He adds: “I just need to continue to work well and do my best for the club and then I’m pretty sure at some point next season we can see how we’re going and take it from there. Coming back has made it better for me because I knew what I missed when I was away so I’m not in a big rush to be leaving it again.”
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On the club’s improvement in the Champions League, Rodgers says “we haven’t done anything yet” but is hopeful this campaign gives supporters the “feeling we all want” – a team that is dominant domestically but can also show their power as a club in Europe.
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There are no new injuries after the international break, everyone has come back fine. Cameron Carter-Vickers was fit before the break but was left out of the game at Kilmarnock as a precaution. Rodgers says the centre-back won’t play every game but doesn’t need him to.
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The Celtic manager is expecting an intense game v Hearts and says the position they’re in doesn’t align with some of their performances.
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Alexandro Bernabei, currently on loan at Internacional, will return in January and Rodgers says it’s “great that he’s gone away and done well” but it won’t be looked at until he comes back.
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On Dan Cummings and other young players, Rodgers says it’s not just about scoring goals or performing, “it’s your mentality and professionalism alongside ability that is what gets you the opportunity”.