Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says that the whole club has been vindicated for their spending in the summer transfer window, not only him, after the Champions League display against Slovan Bratislava.
Back in February, after a frustrating winter window, Rodgers had urged the Celtic board to be ‘braver’ in their transfer dealings, and fans were restless for most of the off-season too as new players failed to arrive at the club.
A late flurry of activity though after the big-money departure of Matt O’Riley saw Celtic smash their club record transfer fee with the £11m capture of Arne Engels from Augsburg, as well as the £5m signing of centre-back Auston Trusty.
Rodgers believes that the whole club deserves credit for how they ended the summer, and for the current strength in depth at his disposal throughout his squad.
“I didn't prove a point,” Rodgers said.
“I think it was just a case of the board done great. You know, they got the players in.
“And I said right the way through the window, I know what we wanted. And we all wanted the same thing. And by the end of the window, if we got the players that we could bring in that could help us, then it would be a great achievement by all. And then eventually we did that.
“Now you see when you have that calibre of player in, what it can do.
“You know, 11 million or 1.5 million, I will always look to develop and improve a player, whatever price that is, or whether that’s a young player coming through the academy. But looking at this particular group coming in last year and then having worked with them and then seeing how we want to progress, there were certain characteristics that I felt that we needed.
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“And it's basically knowing in the back of the mind that there's a possibility of say, Matt going, not only are you losing goals, are you losing presence, you're losing a set piece expert, because he was very good on those. Knowing that Arne fit that all, that profile, then that's why we were keen to get him in and help us.
“So, I think the other night was a great vindication for everyone. I think for the board and the money they've spent, they will have enjoyed hopefully watching the team, the supporters, watching the game, seeing the verve in the team, the dynamism, everything they'd want and attacking football and representing them.
“And then the players themselves on the pitch, doing a brilliant job, fighting for the team, fighting for the club and producing great football, which is the demand.
“So, I think everyone was vindicated.”
