The Celtic boss has addressed growing murmurs around a transfer.
Brendan Rodgers has addressed the arrival of Paul Tisdale Celtic – and talk of Kieran Tierney’s return.
The Hoops take on Aberdeen this weekend in a huge clash at the top of the Premiership. Both sides have won each of their seven games and with talk of the Dons being a title contender, this game has the potential to make or break that notion.
With Rangers not playing to the Sunday away at Kilmarnock, league leaders Celtic have a chance to move eight points clear of both of their nearest competitors. Ahead of the game, Tisdale has been appointed as head of football operations.
A former manager in the EFL, his role “will oversee the development and management of effective operations to support high-level football performance, including the identification and development of talent, in line with the club’s objective to develop Champions League players through our Academy and recruitment processes” as per Celtic’s statement.
His arrival has been hailed by the boss with January transfer prep underway. Rodgers said: “I think we know we are at. We did a lot of great work in the summer in improving the squad and the preparation is well underway to see what we can do for January to improve.
“Paul was in with us over the course of that summer period, and from an operational and strategic perspective, we needed someone else to come in and support that side of things. So, I’m absolutely delighted that he’s in.
“Paul is a talented guy and he joins talented people that we have here at the club and that’s what we want to strive to bring in, people that can help us make a difference and people that are compatible with the philosophy here and how we work. He’s also had managerial experience, which I’m really pleased with as well and that was also a factor. He understands football, he understands the game, he’s managed for a long time also.
“So, he knows from what it takes on the field and he obviously knows that balance between how you need to work with your board. So, I’m absolutely delighted he’s here and I’m sure that he’ll make a really good impact for us. Sometimes people will never know the challenges of what a manager will go through and what a recruitment team will go through.
“There are many challenges here but having someone that can come in on that operational side [will help]. My job is to ensure we look after the core performance, and of course, manage that. But having someone like Paul there to focus purely on that is something that will benefit the club.”
Also pre-match, talk has circulated around Tierney after he and Rodgers were spotted chatting in London at a club event.
The Scotland international is a favourite of the Parkhead support after a trophy-laden senior stint primarily with Rodgers in his first stint in charge, having risen from Celtic’s academy. He joined Arsenal in a £25m deal back in 2019.
Injuries have disrupted his progress in England and last season, Tierney was with Real Sociedad in La Liga. He is yet to play this season through an injury picked up with Scotland at Euro 2024 but rumours have been rife that Celtic may be interested in a January deal with Arsenal. Rodgers batted away the notion of the photo meaning something more.
He said: “It was great to see him. I’ve always been in contact with Kieran, when we were both down there. Obviously, he’s been out injured so it was a nice touch by the club to invite him. He was a great player for this club and it’s unfortunate how it’s went for him at Arsenal with his injuries and other stuff. It doesn’t take much now to get tongues wagging.”
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