Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has been talking to the media before his side’s trip to Rugby Park in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.
Here are the best bits from his press conference:
Says he could not argue with the assessment of Tuesday’s Champions League win over RB Leipzig being a “generational game”. Sees it as the culmination of the work done over the last 12-16 months, and the performance level made him “so proud”.
Insists it is now about sustaining that level as they look to achieve their Champions League aim of reaching the play-offs.
Thinks Celtic have shown they are “a good side” with three of their four Champions League performances this season, the heavy defeat away to Borussia Dortmund aside.
Played down the notion of proving critics wrong after the Dortmund loss, and stressed the “courage” of his players to bounce back from that result with a draw at Atalanta and then the statement win over Leipzig.
On Kilmarnock, Rodgers says it is “always tough” against a Derek McInnes team. Expects them to be “well-organised and super motivated”.
Rodgers says “we would want to tie down” right-back Alistair Johnston to a new contract, and although he praised “influential” Greg Taylor, he says there is “nothing as of yet” in terms of a new deal for the Scotland international.
Rodgers is hopeful he will have the same squad available as he did for the win over Leipzig. Auston Trusty and Cameron Carter-Vickers both missed training on Friday as a “precaution”.
