BRENDAN Rodgers has revealed that he hopes to have a new chief scout in place at Celtic by the summer but won’t rush into an appointment. Celtic have been without a head of recruitment since John Park left the club in October but are in the midst of sourcing his replacement. Rodgers acknowledged the need for data analysis in the modern game but insisted the most important factor for any scout is an instinctive ability to “know a player”.
“Between now and the summer we’ll probably have something organised on it,” he said. “We’re working on it behind the scenes and it’s been a good process. We’re just waiting on the right one.
“It can very complicated in modern football but for me it’s simple: know a player. You get a lot of new school [thinking] around now with computers, statistics and analysis but you still need guys who know a player. A bit of new school and old school and that fusion should allow you to bring in the players that you want.”
Rodgers also warned he would not tolerate any dropping-off in intensity in the latter part of the league campaign even if Celtic are to clinch the title next month. The Northern Irishman admitted he may follow predecessor Neil Lennon’s strategy of resting one or two key figures once the championship has been clinched but felt Celtic owed it to the rest of the division not to let their standards fall.
“No, we have to push to the maximum,” he said about the idea of the team dropping down the gears in the last few months. “We have an obligation to do that. We can’t go soft. We are here to win and to win in the best possible way but that’s just about picking the best team and I think I’ve done that throughout the season.
“There were players who were deemed not to be starters and have done really well. What I have tried to do is maximise my squad and keep them fit, motivated and keep them in pursuit of our objectives and they have all been brilliant in their professionalism.
“So, even if I did give one or two a rest, I feel confident about any players coming in. It certainly won’t take the edge off us because we are preparing, not just for this final part of the season, but to keep the momentum going into next season.
“We will assess it. But if we reach the Scottish Cup final or not, it will still be a long season for us. We have to be ready to go again on June 19. With the Scotland game on June 10, we would have to consider giving the international boys the longest period of rest that we can.”
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