Brendan Rodgers warns Daniel Cummings about agents with a different agenda

The Celtic Star

·1 février 2025

Brendan Rodgers warns Daniel Cummings about agents with a different agenda

Brendan Rodgers spoke to the media yesterday ahead of Celtic’s visit to Fir Park to face managerless Motherwell tomorrow afternoon. Here’s everything that was said…

Players of FC Bayern München pose for a picture prior to the UEFA Champions League match between FC Bayern München and SK Slovan Bratislava at Football Arena Munich on January 29, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

Q: Brendan, what do you make of Bayern Munich in the draw?

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Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, got the easier one, didn’t we? Listen, it’s brilliant. We earned to get to the play-off stage. The players have been outstanding over the eight games and that qualifies us to play one of these top teams. We’ll look forward to that when it comes.”

Q: It’s just the Champions League, isn’t it? If you get far in the competition and get through to the play-off round, you are going to play against a really tough team.

Brendan Rodgers:: “Yeah, I think that’s been the beauty of the competition. There’s obviously pros and cons to that. But, as I say, it was so dynamic. People will say, if you could have one point more, you might have done this or that. But it was so fluid and dynamic right to the very end. The ultimate objective for us was to qualify. Wherever that is, you’re still going to play against a really good team. We’ll look forward to that. We’ve played Bayern Munich before here in my time. We had a really, really good game at home. Played very, very well. Could have got something from the game. So, when that comes, we’re really excited by that opportunity and we will give everything we can over the course of the two legs.”

Celtic fans show their stupidity and selfishness by lighting flares during the UEFA Champions League match between Aston Villa and Celtic at Villa Park on January 29, 2025. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Q: The club have confirmed today that there’s a possibility of maybe no away fans at the Allianz Arena. How disappointing would that be, if that is the case?

Brendan Rodgers: “Well, I’d be bitterly disappointed for every genuine Celtic supporter. Clearly, that’s not decided yet, but it’s serious enough for the club to put that statement out. For those Celtic supporters that genuinely bond with their club and the team that have travelled near and far over many, many years, to even be at the risk of not going, tells you the culmination of events that have taken us to that point. So, yes, that’s where we’re sitting. I really hope that it’s not the case, like I say, for the genuine supporter who loves the club and supports the club and have gone to games all over the world. But let’s see what comes from it.”

Stewards remove a green flare off the pitch during the UEFA Champions League match between Aston Villa and Celtic at Villa Park on January 29, 2025. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Q: You’ve spoken about it already this season a bit, but when it comes to, whether it’s pyrotechnics or smoke bombs, are you really hopeful that that can be stamped out in the future when there are these potential consequences?

Brendan Rodgers:“I think there’s lots of things in the modern game around behaviour and social behaviours. I really hope that football can be the beacon of change for lots of us here. We would never want to get to a point where we go into a game of such magnitude and we can’t take our support base, the opportunity for our supporters to come. I would hope it wouldn’t, but if it takes something like that, then it has to change. The football club, we can’t keep paying hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of fines. In the main, Celtic is what they are because of the supporters.

“Those genuine supporters, like I say, that bond with the club. But we aren’t a club that has money pouring in from all angles and sponsorship and TVs and everything else. This is through the organisation of the club and our support base and what they give. There are so many things around it that I don’t like, but we have the opportunity to change that. I hope it does for the sake of the genuine Celtic support.”

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Celtic fans celebrate with an Irish flag during the UEFA Champions League match between Aston Villa and Celtic at Villa Park on January 29, 2025. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Q: Is there some hope from the club that there could be fans in the Allianz Arena?

Brendan Rodgers: “I think the club will always fight for supporters, that’s what they will do. I haven’t spoken to Michael Nicholson or anyone as of yet this morning on that. That’s what the club have always done, they’ve always fought to represent their support base.”

Q: Do you understand the frustration of supporters with hearing that news, that it’s one individual that has thrown one smoke bomb and it’s thousands who could be implicated? Do you understand the frustrations of the majority of the supporters?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, 100%. But like I say, it’s been a catalogue of events, it’s not just that one. To be in that position where it’s in the balance whether you’re going to be able to go and watch your team or not, because of that, it’s been a series of events that’s led to that. So yes, I can understand the frustration.”

Q: What would you say to that tiny minority that still continue to do it?

Brendan Rodgers: “I think from every aspect of the game, I was looking at the game the other night, we’re 2-0 behind, we show an amazing mentality and spirit to come back into the game, we get to 2-1, we’re ready to go again to start and then the smoke bomb comes onto the pitch and we then have to wait for that to take place. So from a football perspective, you’re losing rhythm, you’re losing that moment, even though we went on and scored early again afterwards. I think there’s a safety issue as well, clearly, for people in the stands. I just find it hard to fathom in terms of how to make the difference between a genuine Celtic supporter and someone who’s there just for a different reason. For me, our support base is absolutely incredible, what we give to the game, the atmosphere that we create. So I really hope that we don’t get this sanction brought upon us for this game and hopefully then, being so close to that, the breaking of that, then maybe it helps us going forward.”

Brendan Rodgers looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League match between Aston Villa and Celtic at Villa Park on January 29, 2025. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Q: How much of a shame would it be for the support to miss out?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, that’s it and that’s where our sympathy goes. So like I say, let’s wait and see what happens. I really entirely hope that that won’t be the case. We can speak more about it then. But like I say, we have a chance to change it and not just accept it, because it’s not acceptable. Our supporters are amazing and we want to keep it that way and we certainly don’t want them missing out in prestigious games, or any game for that matter, because of behaviour.”

Q: From a football point of view, how much better equipped do you think the team is now, from the experiences they’ve had over these last few games in Europe, to travel to Germany and get a result?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, well I think we have improved. I think that the key message for me this season and what we wanted to see was progress. And there’s no doubt that the team have progressed over the course of the competition. I was so proud of the team the other night because what we clearly showed in the game against Aston Villa was that our spirit was just not broken. I felt that in Dortmund, the game just got away from us but either way we were on the heavy end of a bad scoreline. How these players fought back from that and learned from that, the evidence is there over the course of the games, whether it was Atalanta, some of the other games, and the other night. They didn’t panic.

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Adam Idah scores Celtic’s second goal past Emiliano Martinez of Aston Villa during the UEFA Champions League match between Aston Villa and Celtic at Villa Park on January 29, 2025. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

“2-0 down in a real cauldron of atmosphere of a team that really, really wanted to win playing at home. But we just stayed calm with it and our only disappointment was coming out of the game. We just didn’t quite have our squad there to really affect the second half of the game because the players are giving so much and at that level, you want to be able to change it and make those changes that bring that energy to the game. Over the course of the eight games, we’ve shown clear progression, both in our football and our mentality and our attitude because being successful at that level is not just about ability. It’s about attitude and mentality and the players have shown that and now we’ll need to show that again getting to this next level.”

Kieran Tierney and Callum McGregor. Photo AJ (The Celtic Star)

Q: On any potential deal to bring Kieran Tierney in this month? Is that looking unlikely now? Has there been a change in circumstance there?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, and I won’t speak anymore on it because Kieran, I said the other night, by the summer, will be a Celtic player and that’s it. If he’s here later in the month, you’ll know.”

Q: In terms of potential incomings, if that situation has changed, is that an area you’d need to look at and are you still hopeful of bringing in a striking option before the deadline?

Brendan Rodgers: “We’re hopeful of improving the squad. I think that is key for us. Players have gone out. We want to keep the strength in the squad. We’ve brought in a few. We have Jota, who we’re really happy with. He’s had a great period here and now he’s got a chance to build on that legacy. He’s a little bit behind in terms of his football fitness, I would say. But he’s a fantastic addition for us so hopefully we can add a few more.”

Jota rejoices in Celtic return. Photo Kenny Ramsay.

Q: Could he feature on Sunday?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes. He’ll be in the squad. We need to work him back up, both in the training, pitching and in the game and then we’ll just build him up over these coming months.”

Mid-Season Friendly, Showgrounds, Sligo 9/10/2024 Sligo Rovers vs Celtic Celtic s Luis Palma celebrates with the match ball after scoring a hat trick Luis Palma celebrates with the match ball after scoring a hat trick 9/10/2024 Photo :INPHO/Tom Maher

Q: Luis Palma, is he one that could go out?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes. Yes, there’s a possibility for Luis to be leaving and I would expect that to go through.”

Q: A loan deal with an option?

Brendan Rodgers: “A loan with an option, yes.”

Callum McGregor of Celtic during the UEFA Champions League training on January 28, 2025 in Birmingham. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: As regards Sunday, Callum McGregor 500th game, what does that say about him as a Celtic captain?

Brendan Rodgers: “It says so many things, not just as a player but he clearly had the talent as a young player to be at Celtic but it tells you absolutely everything about his professionalism, his commitment, his quality and his example that he sets every single day of his life. Seeing him now to when I first came and just seeing that growth, it’s a remarkable achievement in the position he plays with the possibility of so many good players to be in here to play that number of games. I’m so proud of seeing how his career’s moved from when he first broke into the team in 2016 when I came in just seeing how it was back then to how he leads the team. We are so, so lucky to have him as a captain here and he’s still got numbers of years left.”

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Cameron Carter-Vickers. Dundee v Celtic. 14th January 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Q: In terms of the squad for Sunday, is Cameron Carter-Vickers back?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, he’ll be back available and I don’t think we’ll get anyone else really. James is still not back fit yet.”

UEFA Champions League 2024 2025, Celtic Glasgow vs Young Boys Bern YB Celtic Park. Kasper Schmeichel cheers Celtic’s 1- 0 victory. Photo JOERAN STEINSIEK (IMAGO)

Q: Kasper Schmeichel missed training?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, he’s a bit old, isn’t he? Got to look after him. Yeah, they just need them a few wee extra days so give them a little cuddle. Yeah, so he’s okay.”

Q: Going back to the Champions League game, two extra games, did that allow you a chance a little bit of flexibility to try different tactics? We were talking to Alistair Johnson earlier about the difference between the Atalanta game and the more aggressive pressing from the Villa game. Was that something you were able to do yourself and feel a bit more liberated to try different styles?

Brendan Rodgers: “I think what you find the different teams and how they play and operate at that level and of course it allows you to look at different ideas. Our idea against Aston Villa was the pace and power that they have in the front line. So you want to be able to press the game and have the moments to impose your press but once that gets beaten then you’re trying to get back in and block up that space. Moments we’ve done that really well, other moments they came through that but that’s the risky take whenever you play that type of game. Like you say, the Atalanta game, a different game. But yeah, I love this nature of it, the different tactical ideas of what you try to bring in and to see if it works against lots of times a superior opponent. What for me is always important for us is to show that ability to compete and be there and I think the Aston Villa game is a great example of that. We played some great football at times, scored two brilliant goals and we were right in the game, the game was right in the balance even though the second half, like I say, we tired a wee bit, we didn’t quite have what we wanted to make the changes in the game. But we were still there right into injury time at 3-2. So yeah, that’s a positive for us and it’s a great foundation this year to allow us to continue to grow and have confidence at the level.”

Morgan Rogers scores his team’s fourth goal past Kasper Schmeichel and Dane Murray during the UEFA Champions League match between Aston Villa and Celtic at Villa Park on January 29, 2025. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

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Q: The changes you made in the game, there were young players. Is that something you could maybe see a wee bit more of between now and the end of the season, some youth players getting a chance?

Brendan Rodgers: “Youth players will always get the chance from me if they’re good enough. You know, the pathway is not meant to be easy. Just because you’re a youth player at Celtic, it doesn’t mean then you go and play for the first team. It means you’ve got to earn the right. Dane Murray is a player I really like. I’ve seen him play here early on in his career and then he had a horrendous injury that’s put him out for a long time. He’s come back, you can see the work he’s done. He’s 6’4″, he’s big, he’s got good pace, he can play. I wanted to stick him on the other night because the things I’ve been telling him in order to be a top player, because he’s a great big guy, he’s a nice big guy. You step on the pitch, you’ve got to be aggressive. And sometimes you don’t understand that until you experience it.

“So to stick him on for 15-20 minutes, to get bashed up a bit and make a mistake, that’s a part of your learning. Because you can play relaxed, or you can look relaxed, but you can’t play relaxed. But I think if he can really make that mindset step, then he could be a really good player for us.” So that possibility to stick him on there. Liam Scales cramped, he’d obviously not played for a wee while. So we had to make those changes, Daniel coming on, Adam had run his race, done great for us. I always say the same thing, if the young players are good enough and they have the right mentality, there’ll always be an opportunity of playing him.”

Daniel Cummings, Arne Engels and Brendan Rodgers, Manager of Celtic, applauds the fans after the team’s defeat during the UEFA Champions League match between Aston Villa and Celtic at Villa Park on January 29, 2025. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Q: There’s talk of Daniel Cummings getting a new contract, is there any update on that?

Brendan Rodgers: “There’s no update on that. I’d always say for the young players, I think the challenge here now for young players is patience. They want to be in the first team at 17, 18. But that’s difficult at a club like this here, unless you’re an incredibly special talent. But it doesn’t mean that you can never be. I’ve spent my career and my life developing young players, putting them in the team. And some have been ready. Like Raheem Sterling at 17 years of age. He was ready. Physically, mentally, ability, everything. Then there’s been some other players, like Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, that need a wee bit more time, and he gets his debut, and then he’s ready a bit later.

Daniel Cummings of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the UEFA Youth League 2024/25 match between Celtic FC and RB Leipzig at Lesser Hampden on November 05, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“It’s just about time. What young players need to have here is, is understand that there’s a bit of patience needed. And the captain of the club is a perfect example. Young players come through the system, had to take a loan away from here, and then at 21 he plays, and now tomorrow he’s playing his 500th game. There’s no greater example. But if you want to be patient and trust the club, you’ll get there. If you don’t, you might listen to your agent, who’s got a different agenda, that takes you away from here, and then you’ll go somewhere else. But there’ll always be chances here for young players. One, if they have the ability. Two, if they have a bit of patience.”

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Stuart Kettlewell of Motherwell looks on prior to the Premier Sports Cup Semi-Final match between Motherwell and theRangers at Hampden Park on November 03, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: What’s your thoughts on playing Motherwell this week after Stuart Kettlewell left?

Brendan Rodgers: “I’m clearly disappointed for Stuart. For a manager to do that, really shows the depth of freedom that he had. And it’s absolutely right, if it’s affecting his family, because I always say, family and football is in that order. We all take a bit of stick as managers, and we accept that as a part of it. But when you buy the ticket for the games, it doesn’t give you the right to say whatever you want to say. And if that goes beyond that, where Stuart and his family is affected, and what people don’t understand is that your kids now are having to go to school, and your grandkids, and they get the torment at school, or out in public.”

“If the job brings that to them, and it makes them insecure and unstable for a period of time, then it’s not worth it. It’s really not worth it. Obviously I’m sad that it got to the point for Stuart that he felt that. Especially at a club like Motherwell. Motherwell is a club, in my time up here, it has looked like a really good club. Great people there, community club, fantastic pitch, always difficult games, good players. So he must have felt really strongly about it. I’m disappointed for him as a young manager that’s done well in there, sitting fifth in the league, always competitive, got to the semi-final of a cup competition, progressing them well, making them competitive.I know when I spoke to him after games, I’ve spoken to him on the phone, he’s always a very curious guy who wants the best for his club and for his team. So to lose someone like that is disappointing.”

Conor Spence

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