Brendan Rodgers is settling in to stint number two as Celtic boss but wants his players to be well aware of the winning culture he had the first time around.
The Irishman is back in the Parkhead hot-seat but with some unfamiliar faces to engage with as he looks to emulate the success of a Treble achieved under previous Ange Postecoglou last campaign. For Rodgers, it was a clean sweep of seven out of seven trophies during his spell that ended in 2019 after he left for Leicester City. It's a fresh looking but with some never-changing furniture as reunions with the likes of Callum McGregor and James Forrest will prove a safe haven for the 50-year-old.
It's Champions League revenge, backed with the financial firepower promised by the Parkhead powerbrokers on his return, that is on the Hoops boss' mind and he has added to his arsenal with Odin Thiago Holm and Marco Tilio to boost his chances. Rodgers admits it's like being back with his family but there are still key squad tweaks he wants to make before his Celtic side are the ready-made winners he enjoyed coaching during his first spell.
Here's every word from the Irishman's interview with Celtic TV amid a hectic pre-season.
Q - How does it feel to be back?
“It feels like coming back to family, if I’m honest. I’ve been given a great welcome back and it’s been great to see a lot of faces, obviously that were here when I was here the last time, so it feels really good.”
Q - How have you found it with new and familiar coaching staff?
“Obviously just coming in here with Glen, who has worked with me at all my clubs, I knew John. John is an outstanding coach and fantastic person, and he really complements my teaching of the game. So I knew John really, really well and I know that I can trust him with everything. Our view of the game is very much the same, so it’s been great to come back and work with him.
“Woodsy, again I know and is an outstanding goalkeeping coach, and Gavin and Harry who I didn’t know so well, but both of those guys are really passionate about coaching, really passionate about developing players and it’s a really strong coaching team.”
Q - What was it like to meet the new players, especially younger stars?
"Normally, now in the modern game, very rarely do you get your players back at the one time. So that always gives you a chance to see the young players, and I’ve got to say I’ve been really impressed with, both the established guys in the first-team squad.
"They’ve been excellent, their attitude is outstanding and they’ve come back in really, really good condition, so they are back already fit that gives us the chance to really build on that, and the young players.
“Of course a lot of them I haven’t known and they’ve been pleasantly surprising and really, really good. Sometimes a young player can come in and suffer with the intensity of training with the first team, but they’ve all coped really, really well and that’s been pleasing.”
Q - How important is pre-season in building the foundations?
"We want to play attacking aggressive football and in order to do that you obviously need to be very good, but you also need to be very fit. So building up that base over the course of this pre-season is very important, and the point I made to the players is it starts on day one. When you’re looking to reclaim the winning mentality you have to come back from the very first day and give everything, and that’s what the players have done so far.”
Q - The players returning to Lennoxtown and relationship with Callum McGregor
"I spoke to them all this morning so great to see them back. Callum, I know, from my previous time here. I am so happy he is here, captain and thriving in the role. He is an outstanding captain for me. I knew Mikey (Johnston), the rest of the guys it was great to meet them for the first time.
"We had a really strong relationship the last time I was here. I’ve seen him grow, I’ve seen his personality grow on the field and he was very much beside Scott Brown in my first time here. Just to see him continue to grow and evolve, and now being the great ambassador he is for the club as well as player, I’m really proud to see that development.
"So I’m really looking forward to working with Cal. He’s a brilliant player, he communicates so well for the club, for his team-mates and I have to say he was one of the big reasons for coming back. When I had the lunch with him and we spoke about Celtic, I could see the determination in his eyes to keep achieving and that made me really think about going back to help him and support the team.
“Because that’s why we all exist. We all exist here at Celtic to help the players achieve and when they achieve, then the supporters are happy.”
Q - Excited about working with the full squad ahead of Japan trip?
"I think the next block of two weeks will be a punishing schedule with the heat, but we need to get our work in and that’s what pre-season is for."
Q - What can Celtic fans expect from Marco Tilio?
"He's slight in stature but very quick and dynamic. The recruitment team had a few signings that they were well down the road with and when I had a look at them I was very impressed with what I saw. Marco will come in and prove to be a really good addition to the squad. He's fast, dynamic can play in a couple positions and he scores goals. A young player with a very bright future and I look forward to seeing him."
Q - How eager are you to work with Kyogo and Daizen Maeda?
"Him and Daizen have been outstanding players for the club. With Kyogo signing, I've always had a striker at the top of the pitch with pace and for me he's absolutely perfect. His work-rate, intensity and how he presses the game but then his movement is that of a top forward. I've spoken to him on video and stuff, you can just get a sense of his character and mentality.
"You can't underestimate his work-rate [Maeda]. He's different to other players but what he gives the team, he can play in a number of positions. He sets the tone for the pressing, on the left-side or through the middle like he does for Japan. He presses and works tirelessly and we can work with him to add more goals to his game. You will see him constantly improve."
Q - How important is a walking embodiment of a Celtic star like James Forrest?
"He's been a brilliant ambassador and player for the club. Sometimes when you come through the system you don't get the accolades of others. To play the number of games he has, and win the trophies he has and still be as humble he is, it's a great testament to James and the type of person he is.
"He was brilliant for me in my first time here, a very important member of the squad and he will be that again this time. I really hope for his testimonial we get as many people as we can. You don't see it often in the modern game, someone being at the club for so long and he's worthy of a full stadium for him. That would be a great thing from every Celtic supporter and fan for him."
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