Rodgers has 'already named team' for Celtic trip to Aberdeen
Brendan Rodgers admitted he has already named his Celtic team for the midweek trip to Aberdeen - a dress rehearsal for the Scottish Cup final in a few weeks' time.The Celtic boss told his players his next starting XI in the immediate aftermath of their 3-1 win over Hibernian on Saturday."You're obviously looking at recovery periods and looking at the Scottish Cup final and trying to work your way back," Rodgers said."Plus, we played a week ago, so no, I didn't think the need to do that [make lots of changes], but I've already named the team for Aberdeen to the guys, they know the team for Wednesday."Despite hinting at a radical changes to his side before the 3-1 win over Hibs, Rodgers only made three - bringing in Kasper Schmeichel, Auston Trusty and Nicolas Kuhn.He also handed a debut to 17-year-old midfielder Sean McArdle from the bench."I trust all the players," he said. "The players I'll bring in will be equipped and ready to go there and win the game. It's just on the back of such a long, long season and having the freshness."Obviously, we'll have Ali Johnston, he'll be back then for Wednesday as well."I just think it's keeping the freshness in the team. The target was to arrive at the Scottish Cup final with as many of the players with minutes in their legs."And then that gives us an opportunity to choose the team and a bench to win."One position that will definitely rotate midweek is the goalkeeper, with Viljami Sinisalo swapping with Schmeichel."Viljami will play," Rodgers said. "It was just for Kasper to get the feeling again. He's been out for a long time, but I think that him being out, the positive is that having the chance to see Vil now and his authority, you see the calmness of him for such a young goalkeeper."We've really, really gained from that."But with Kasper, I know in football there's short memories, but not with me. He's been brilliant for me all season, and it's just nice to get him that feel, see how he reacts with his shoulder over the course of the week, and then we can look at it next week."
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Sam Thompson and Louis Tomlinson set for awkward encounter THIS weekend at Soccer Aid - three months after it was revealed One Direction star was dating his ex Zara McDermott
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The Guardian
an hour ago
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2 hours ago
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