logo
Friendship on hold as managers vie for Champions League spot

Friendship on hold as managers vie for Champions League spot

BBC News2 days ago
Club Brugge head coach Nicky Hayen says he has a "good connection" with Rangers counterpart Russell Martin. But any friendship is likely to be put on hold during their forthcoming Champions League play-off tie.The sides meet at Ibrox on Tuesday night in the first leg with the return the following Wednesday in Belgium."I like Russell very much," Hayen, 45, told BBC Scotland. "I was in Haverfordwest County when he was in Swansea. We met each other because of Gary Richards (his former assistant at Haverfordwest who previously worked at Swansea).""I wanted to visit Swansea for two days. He allowed it. But we never found the right date. The year after, we arranged a friendly game between the two teams. The game was scheduled. Then I left the club to come to Brugge."Hayen revealed the pair exchanged regular text messages, although they actually only met in person for the first time when Brugge played Rangers this summer in a friendly at Ibrox."We spoke a lot," said Hayen. "We texted a lot. We stayed always in touch. But of course, tomorrow this doesn't count."He's a great manager. If you see the results that he got in Swansea and Southampton. It's a nice step for him over here. Of course, there's a lot of pressure. But I'm sure that he will deal with it."Club Brugge beat Salzburg to reach the play-off round. And, after making it to the round of 16 in last season's competition, Hayen is keen to progress to the league phase again this term."The team who is the best in keeping the ball, progressing, use the spaces, they will have a good chance to win the game," added Hayen.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

'Back Brendan' or the 'perfect excuse to leave'
'Back Brendan' or the 'perfect excuse to leave'

BBC News

time6 minutes ago

  • BBC News

'Back Brendan' or the 'perfect excuse to leave'

We asked you for your thoughts on Celtic's summer transfer window and Brendan Rodgers' post-match comments after the 0-0 draw with Kairat a taste of what you had to Why do people think Brendan Rodgers negotiates the fees? If this rudderless, money-hungry board had done their business sooner those the players would have cost nowhere near 20m. Celtic cannot progress while the same faces run the show with their regular managed It's clear we have the money and winning two or three domestically is not what fans want or expect - they want a team that competes in Europe. We have to shop around but look at Bodo/Glimt - 5-0 winners tonight - who don't have our resources. Back Brendan!Kenny: Low-ball bids have resulted in gambling on the play-off. The disgust in Brendan Rodgers is the same as every fan. Signing projects hoping one out of five sells for £20m. Teflon Brendan: No matter what happens, it's always someone else's fault. Either the board or the The usual from Rodgers… blah blah The issue with signings is not fees, it's timing. Jota is long term out, Brendan said he wants Yang Hyun-jun out on loan, Nicolas Kuhn was sold weeks ago. The club are presumably singing two wingers, and yet we can't get one signed before the important games have The transfer dealing aren't good enough but maybe we also need to look at Rodgers' failure to evolve in terms of team set up. It's a team of players who go side-to-side with no one willing to break rank and try something different to create space for shots or forward That one is on Rodgers and the players. Should have beaten them with what we Rodgers has the perfect excuse to leave after this season. Lack of urgency and quality about this team. The board have rolled the dice and failed, this is on Brendan working his ticket again? Fans going to hound out Lawwell again? We're just lucky Rangers haven't got their act together. Sack the Not nearly good enough. Kyogo and Kuhn are long gone and Adam Idah is not anywhere near the standard we Lack of re-investment of the transfer revenue clearly demonstrates the lack of ambition of the club.

Jefte Rangers transfer exit confirmed as club bank profit
Jefte Rangers transfer exit confirmed as club bank profit

The Herald Scotland

time8 minutes ago

  • The Herald Scotland

Jefte Rangers transfer exit confirmed as club bank profit

The transfer deal will see Rangers bank a significant profit on the £800k fee they paid to sign the defender from Fluminense. Palmeiras had identified Jefte as a key target, with talks kicked off last week over an agreement. The transfer deal also includes performance-related add-ons and a sell-on clause. A club statement confirmed: "Rangers Football Club can today confirm the departure of Jefté to Palmeiras for an undisclosed fee. "The 21-year-old, who joined the club in May 2024, made 56 appearances for Rangers during his time in Glasgow. "Everyone at Rangers thanks Jefté for his contribution while at the club, and we wish him well for his future career." Read more: "He was in yesterday morning and things have transpired that he's not here now, but we'll have to wait and see what happens over the next couple of days," Russell Martin told BBC Scotland of a deal for Jefte last week. "It's looking likely he will be on his way and if he goes, he goes with everyone's best wishes and if for whatever reason because this is football it doesn't happen, he'll be welcomed back. "We wouldn't let Jefte go if we didn't have plans to make sure we're not left short there." Rangers had moved quickly to sign Jayden Meghoma on loan from Brentford as Jefte headed for the exit. The full-back made his debut in the Champions League play-off round first leg defeat to Club Brugge on Tuesday.

Brendan Rodgers addresses anti-Celtic board chants and why Adam Idah was subbed at half-time
Brendan Rodgers addresses anti-Celtic board chants and why Adam Idah was subbed at half-time

Scotsman

time8 minutes ago

  • Scotsman

Brendan Rodgers addresses anti-Celtic board chants and why Adam Idah was subbed at half-time

Celtic boss admits squad depth is 'lightest' it has been Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Brendan Rodgers has acknowledged the fans' unhappiness after Celtic's Champions League play-off clash with FC Kairat ended in a frustrating goalless draw at Parkhead. It means the Scottish champions' hopes of a place in the league stage and the estimated £40 million booty rests on a game played 3,500 miles away in Almaty. It might be just as well it's so far away as far as the Celtic hierarchy are concerned. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Chairman Peter Lawwell and chief executive Michael Nicholson were targeted during the game by the Green Brigade, who demanded the pair leave the club. 'Sack the board!' chants resounded round the ground. Supporters also protested at the front of the main stand afterwards. Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers (centre) during the goalless draw with Kairat Almaty at Cetic Park. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group) | SNS Group Rodgers tried to make light of the discord at such a crucial period for his team but he knows there's been a dereliction of duty somewhere in the building. 'What I do know is, over many years 'sack the board' usually means 'sack the manager',' he said. 'It's normally the manager that goes when that starts to be sung! I can only really look at the players we have here, and the performance. We've known for a long time what we've needed as a squad, so I don't want to go into that.' He was asked again and again about the shortage of signings - or at least new players of the standard required to fill the gaps left by the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi and Nicolas Kuhn, as well as the injured Jota. Right-back Alistair Johnston has also joined Jota on the sidelines after sustaining a suspected hamstring strain in the first half. 'I haven't spoken to the medical guys yet, but it looks hamstring injury, which is disappointing,' said Rodgers. 'So I'll get more info on that.' On the issue of new signings, or the lack of them, he was asked why Celtic are in this position when they've had so long to prepare for the play-off round. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I can't answer that,' he said. 'Because it's not my decision in the end. I can prepare the team. The staff, the players that are here have been fantastic over pre-season. We're all clear on what we need to improve. And for whatever reason, we haven't been able to do that. So now we're in this position. 'And we have to accept it, and not dwell on it. And try and come through it for Saturday (v Livingston) and for Tuesday." Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers at full time after the goalless draw with Kairat Almaty. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group) | SNS Group 'Can't afford to wait' He was asked whether he has enough game-changers to be confident of progression next week. "Whether I think it or not, we have to do it," he said. Adam Idah is not included among the game-changers on current form. The striker was taken off at half-time and has yet to score this season. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Rodgers accepted it's a tricky time for the struggling Irishman. 'There's no rocket science in it,' he said. 'It's all hard work. It's all preparation. That will obviously lead to confidence, and then you'll obviously succeed as a player from that. It didn't quite go for him in the first half. I wanted a little bit more activity in and around the box, because I felt we could get up there. 'Adam's a good boy. He's an honest boy. He hasn't quite started how he would have liked. But in games like these here, I can't afford to wait. And that's why I made the change at half time.' Celtic's Adam Idah was substituted at half-time during the Champions League play-off first leg against Kairat Almaty. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group) | SNS Group 'Lightest we've been' Rodgers admitted Celtic are as 'light' as he can remember when it comes to squad depth. He described the team's first-half performance as "passive" and lacking intent. He stressed that players are being forced to play out of position. 'I would say going into these sort of games, this is probably the lightest that we've been in certain key areas of the pitch,' he said. 'You can see over the course of the season so far we haven't given away a great deal. We've defended well, we've defended strong. Of course, goals win games, and that's the area of the pitch where we've been short in. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store