Brendan Rodgers has insisted he won’t entertain any complacency at Celtic – and is targeting a domestic Treble as well as a place in the knockout rounds of the new-look Champions League.
The Premiership champions begin the defence of their title at home to Kilmarnock on Sunday having yet to bolster the squad which won the league and Scottish Cup double last season.
Kasper Schmeichel has replaced Joe Hart in goal, with Paulo Bernardo signing from Benfica for £3.5million. The club remain in negotiations with Norwich over a permanent switch for Adam Idah, but have otherwise been frustrated in their attempts to recruit players capable of walking into Rodgers’ side.
Adamant that is indicative of a slow window across the boards, the Celtic boss fully expects to have a squad capable of making inroads in Europe by the time business closes on August 30 while establishing domestic domination.
‘Certainly, complacency doesn’t ever enter my mind because we didn’t win three trophies last year, we won two, we lost out on one,’ he said.
Rodgers is looking for a Treble after missing out on League Cup last season
Celtic boss Rodgers welcomes back Paulo Bernardo but is looking for more new additions
Kyogo Furuhashi takes a quick breather during a training session
‘So domestically, we’ve got to make up on that and then we have to be better in Europe. As simple as that. We can’t beat about the bush. We have to be better.
‘But in order to be better, you need quality. And if you’re going to improve on that, then we need to find that. It’s as absolutely simple as that.
‘So that’s our drive, that’s our motivation and that’s something that the ambition is absolutely burning for us to be the best that we can be.’
Asked what progress in Europe would look like ahead of the inaugural 36-team league format, Rodgers was clear that finishing between ninth and 24th was the aim.
‘I want us to be able to get into a play-off position,’ he said.
‘It’s a balance because you’re playing teams that are really high level, but obviously we now get eight games.
‘We also are being realistic as well. The club has won one game in so many years at home. But that shouldn’t stop us pushing.
Rodgers is clearly looking forward to the new season kicking off this weekend
The Celtic manager has a chat with captain Callum McGregor at Lennoxtown
Rodgers greets midfielder Matt O’Riley, whose future is still unclear
‘And I think with the right quality of player at that level that can help us then I believe that we can do that. I’ve got every confidence that we can do that.’
Citing Rangers’ run to the title in 2021 as a reason why he can’t rest on his laurels, Rodgers added: ‘No, (it’s) not within our psyche, certainly not within a manager’s psyche and a player’s psyche.
‘It’s natural that others can think that, and that you could just win, but absolutely no chance.
‘We’re measured on our own standard and our standards are domestically really strong. And that’s the bread and butter.
‘So, you have to continue with that, and you can’t not just think that it won’t change.
‘I think we saw that a few years ago. You know, Rangers actually won the league. Then quickly it changed again.’