Brendan Rodgers is confident Celtic will have enough to kill off Kairat Almaty but has warned that they’ll need to seriously strengthen for another tilt at qualifying for the Champions League knockout stage.
The Parkhead club face the men from Kazakhstan in the first leg of their play-off tomorrow evening hoping to qualify for the main competition for a record fourth successive year.
A summer of slow transfer activity to date means Kieran Tierney and Benjamin Nygren are likely to be the only new signings who’ll start the game.
And while the manager believes the players he currently has at his disposal are good enough to get the first job done, he feels significant additions would then have to be made.
Asked if the squad was currently good enough to win the tie, Rodgers replied: ‘Yes. I’ve had no injuries and I believe that the quality of our game and the intensity that we want to work at can hopefully be enough to see us through. But like I said, these games will always be tough games.’
Then, pressed on whether he believed the current group would be good enough to make an impact in the league phase, he added: ‘Well, I think firstly, we want to qualify, of course. And if it’s with this group of players, I’m confident that we can do that. Going forward, listen, it’s clear we would have to improve the squad.’
Brendan Rodgers has much to ponder over the next week or so besides just opponents Kairat
The Celtic squad go through their paces ahead of the Champions League play-off first leg
Rodgers shows his former Leicester midfielder Marc Albrighton around Lennoxtown
Eight years ago, under Rodgers, Celtic beat Kazakhstani side Astana 5-0 in Glasgow before a fraught night away from home saw them lose 4-3 to progress 8-4 on aggregate.
With an even longer trip awaiting on Sunday, the manager will urge his players to do all they can to give themselves another healthy cushion.
‘We set off in every game to go and attack the game and play our football in it. And this will be no different,’ he said.
‘Two of the three experiences I’ve had in qualification, having gone through qualification phases, has been based around a really, really good first leg.
‘In both of those, we scored five goals. So, for us, it’s really that attack and intent in the game and being really, really difficult to play against. And then, hopefully, we can then take an advantage then into the second leg.’
Rodgers took a straight bat to reports linking him with a move for veteran striker Jamie Vardy.
The 38-year-old is a free agent after leaving Leicester following a 13-season spell which coincided with the Northern Irishman’s time at the club.
Asked about the former England man, who’s also been linked with Napoli, the manager said: ‘Listen, I would not speak about any individual player. Of course, I’ve worked really well with Jamie.
‘He was brilliant for me in my time at Leicester. But no, there’s been so many names floated about. But I wouldn’t disclose anyone.’
