BRENDAN Rodgers last night dismissed suggestions he is at loggerheads with the Celtic board over their long-standing transfer policy despite admitting their squad was currently weaker than last season.
Rodgers prompted speculation that he was unhappy with the lack of transfer activity at Parkhead last week following the first leg of the Champions League second qualifying round against Rosenborg.
He stated that he was unaware about the pursuit of Australian winger Daniel Arzani the day after he admitted that he was unsure if he would be able to strengthen before the window closes next month.
Read more: Heed the wise words of Tommy Burns, Derek Whyte tells Celtic defender Jack Hendry
However, the Northern Irishman, who has brought in Odsonne Edouard from Paris Saint-Germain for a club record £9 million fee this summer, insisted he was comfortable with the Celtic business model as his side prepared for the second leg here.
The double treble-winning manager stated he would not make signings simply to placate fans and the media and stressed he was excited with the personnel he currently has at his disposal.
“We have lots of players that are working very well, that are developing, but what we need is quality and that is important," he said. "I don’t really want to bring in players that are just going to come in and, you know, just stockpile a group. We’ve got a core that really connect to how we work, but we have to bring in quality.
“Now that’s then what goes over to the club, and then the club will look to then do their best, which I believe they are, their very best, to get the level of quality that we need in and that’s going to help us improve because that’s what’s important.
“I think there’s always going to be a limit and I am fully aware of that. No matter what my feeling is I have to respect where the club is at. The club isn’t a Premier League club down south. They’re always going to have to be mindful of the types of salaries that they can pay because it is a totally different market.
Read more: Heed the wise words of Tommy Burns, Derek Whyte tells Celtic defender Jack Hendry
“But it is the job of the manager, the coach, to try and push to get the possible players we can in and help keep the club moving forward.”
Rodgers added: “I don’t run the club. The club have had a very clear structure of how they work. Of course, these last couple of years have been great years for us. I have got no reason not to ever believe that club don’t want that either.
“They have supported me extremely well since I have been up here. All the changes I wanted to make, all the things I wanted to do, I have had great support in that. I just think it is one where there is not a huge reforming that needs doing.
“I can easy bring in 10 players. It looks nice and it might flash up on the telly. I am looking at efficiency, I am looking at the quality of the players. So, like I say, the recruitment team are looking very hard at profiles, the targets, and, like I say, we hope we can get some of them in.”
Asked if he would be happy to go into the ew season with the squad he has got, Rodgers said: “I have no choice. I love working with the players that we have. Like I say continuity in football sometimes gets forgotten about because people just want to recycle players.
Read more: Heed the wise words of Tommy Burns, Derek Whyte tells Celtic defender Jack Hendry
“But when you get to a state like our club is in, which is very healthy, very strong, lots of great value within the squad, with lots of growth left in them, that’s great. That’s our job, to improve that.
“But you also need to strengthen. As we sit here now, we aren’t as strong a squad as what we were last year. We have lost players. I think everyone can see that, but the club know that as well, we call know that, we all push to try and get in the best quality that we can to make us better. That is always the key.”
Meanwhile, Rodgers said he was optimistic that Dedryck Boyata, who won't play against Rosenborg tonight, and James Forrest would both sign extensions to their current contracts.
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