Celtic stars on fairway to heaven in Portugal after days of hard graft as very special visit awaits
Players would be hitting the town to let their hair down. There would be curfews stretched the limit, players climbing out windows to get back out and managers pacing the hotel corridors to all hours in the morning.
But footballers are a far better behaved lot these days.
Brendan Rodgers gave his Celtic players a few hours peace on Sunday after knocking their pan in for a fortnight and he didn't need to worry about them charging to the nearest boozer.
It was casual walks around Lisbon and some golf instead. There are a few course bandits in the Hoops dressing room.
Greg Taylor was the shark of this side but him leaving has left the door open for a few others to claim top spot.
The manager isn't too shabby on the links either. Rodgers is a member at the ultra swanky Loch Lomond but he joked the other day that his clubs are about to be stuck in the garage for about 10 months when the new campaign gets up and running and the games come thick as fast.
There's been plenty of hard graft done already but the squad could be in for another treat on Monday, with a planned trip to the famed Estadio Nacional planned.
There was no way Celts were going to spend the week training at the Portuguese Football Federation next door and not pop in to see the scene of the club's greatest ever triumph.
Rodgers might be hoping some of the magic of the place rubs off on his men for the new season.
He'll also be hoping the sun is out. The chat out here has been constant about the weather – and the fact it's been better at home than in Portugal.
In Saturday's bounce game with Estrela, it was actually five degrees cooler in Lisbon than it was in Millport.
It's sod's law, you wait all year for the summer to start and then it arrives when you are away.
At least it's more comfortable to train and play in, although Reo Hatate had been hoping for some rays as he rolled his eyes and laughed at the sight of clouds about.
There have been pre-seasons when players have looked like they were going to melt.
Last year in America was baking, and they had the fall out from the Donald Trump shooting sending folk wacky as well. The year before in Japan it was so humid players looked like they'd walked through a carwash even before kick off in their friendly games.
This is far more pleasant, but it's not going to last. The temperatures are rising down in the Algarve, where the Hoops will take on Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday night.
After some of the usual low key games designed to get players minutes, Rodgers is looking for something more like the real Celts this time.
The big hitters are back in the squad after a few holes on Sunday, it won't be long before they will come out swinging again.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
44 minutes ago
- BBC News
'Celtic to finish top of pile' - but concern about Rodgers & transfers
As the new season kicks off this Sunday, it's hard not to feel a mix of both frustration and lack of meaningful first-team signings so far has been disappointing, especially with clear areas still needing fans we expected more urgency in the transfer market, and - Kieran Tierney and Benjamin Nygren aside - the silence has only added to the said, there's still a strong sense of belief in the core squad and our ability to once again have a successful campaign however, may be a different Brendan Rodgers we have a manager who we trust to get results where it matters most, but the lack of backing (so far!) leaves us wondering what the man himself must be thinking.A strong start on Sunday against St Mirren would help settle some nerves, but some quality reinforcements wouldn't go amiss the meantime, here are our big predictions for the 2025-26 season:Where will you finish in the league and why?Celtic will once again finish top of the pile, making it 14 titles from the last 15 available. Put simply, Rodgers doesn't know how NOT to win this league and will ensure we do so once again - whether he's here next season or is the best signing or has he not signed yet and who should it be?It simply has to be Tierney. For us to secure the signing of a player who has spent his past six years with Arsenal and is still just 28 years of age is outrageous. Celtic have no right to sign a player of KT's calibre and it's clear his passion for the club has been the deciding factor here. To see him walking out this weekend on flag day will be a massive moment for do you want from your manager this season?Domestic success, progress in Europe, and his signature on a contract extension running beyond the end of this will be the breakout star in your squad?From a homegrown point of view, there are high hopes for young Dane Murray at centre-half, but that aside this could (and will!) be a massive season for Arne Engels. Time for Celtic's £11m man to is your one major concern?That the longer it goes unresolved, the uncertainty around Rodgers' long-term future may cause unrest among both fans and players alike. He is vital to everything Celtic do and the sooner this one is resolved the can be found at The Celtic Exchange, external
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Ex-Celtic head of recruitment reveals his best signings over the years as he takes up new job with St Mirren
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) JOHN PARK has revealed some of his favourite Celtic signings were bargain buys. The experienced recruitment specialist has been involved with identifying talents for the Hoops, Rangers, Hibs and Blackburn Rovers over a lengthy career. Sign up for the Celtic newsletter Sign up 3 Kris Commons in action for Celtic in 2013 Credit: Kenny Ramsay - The Sun Glasgow 3 Izaguirre (left) and Callum McGregor lift the Scottish League cup 2015 Credit: SNS 3 Ex-Celtic boss Neil Lennon with chief scout John Park in 2012 Credit: SNS Having joined the Saints last month as the head of recruitment and emerging talent, Park is now aiming to unearth some more rough diamonds for boss Stephen Robinson to polish. When asked for moves he's particularly proud of pulling off, Buddies head of recruitment Park said: "It's easy to look at the bigger ones you've been lucky with, in terms of getting players over the line. "But even when I was at Celtic, you look at bringing in Kris Commons at £300,000. "Emilio Izaguirre was another that was just as important as any other transfers. "Joe Ledley and Adam Matthews [who both joined Celtic for free] went on to play Champions League football. "They're pleasing and hopefully we can do a bit of that here as well." The former Celtic head of recruitment has showed his mastery of finding cheap hidden gems, something that will be especially applicable to St Mirren's objectives. Buddies chief Keith Lasley had nothing but praise for Park when he took up the position. He said: "John's experiences across the world, significantly in player trading and youth development, make him the ideal person to build upon the relative success at the club over the past few years in line with our club strategy." After replacing Martin Foyle, Park has been thrown straight into a hectic period with the summer window in full swing. Major Mikey Moore Rangers loan doubts & 'strange situation' at Celtic + transfer news Go Ballistic He has already been blown away by Robbo's desire to get involved with recruitment as the Paisley side target a fourth consecutive top half finish. Park told Sky Sports: "It's chaotic, but it's interesting for me because coming in I didn't know Stephen. "I've never seen a guy with so much attention to detail. That's on the coaching side and the recruitment side. "It's been outstanding and it's good for me when your manager takes a big interest in recruitment. "I don't know how he's done it, three top six finishes. "I'm sure it's his coaching and attention to detail that's kept this team up there. "What a job he's done." Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
STV News
an hour ago
- STV News
Celtic set to sign Manchester City defender Jahmai Simpson-Pusey on loan
Celtic are set to make their seventh summer signing with the addition of Manchester City defender Jahmai Simpson-Pusey. Simpson-Pusey is poised to complete a deal that will see him move to the Premiership champions on loan for the season. The highly-rated 19-year-old came through the ranks at City and has enjoyed success at youth level but is now seen as being ready for regular first team football. He's played for City in both the EFL Cup and the Champions League but the majority of his development has come in Premier League 2, where he was named as player of the season. Simpson-Pusey is now set to compete for honours in Scotland and to help Celtic achieve their European ambitions. The deal follows Brendan Rodgers comments that he was hopeful of adding to his squad before the Premiership opener against St Mirren on Sunday, and the manager said the club also aims to complete more signings. 'We still have work to do in the market,' Rodgers told Sky Sports. 'But I'm really excited and the focus is on players here who have been working well. 'Hopefully by the end of the month we'll be a stronger squad. 'We hope this week there might be some news but coaches and the transfer market don't always work at the same pace. 'Coaches want a player in immediately but the market doesn't always work like that. A lot goes into it. 'It's also the reason for pre-season. You want your team together as quick as you can so you can get work in and get the togetherness and the spirit formed. 'But we know that traditionally it can be a challenge. 'We've lost key players and we want to replace those as quick as we can in order to keep developing. 'I'm hopeful that we can do that.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
