Chris Davies Hired As Rodgers Assistant

What a guy.

 

Stu shoot
https://mobile.twitter.com/CelticGoals/status/837053061889736704/video/1

 

Think Brendan was going to nick the credit for that free kick there

 

This guy deserves so much credit

(Not just the free kick)

 

Thats what your looking for. Imagine that when we are drawing 0-0 away in some quailifier. These kind of spots make the difference. Great from Davies and Brendan. "Stu! Have a go lad"

 

Handsome intelligent *. Love him.

 

Celtic Tv interview
https://streamable.com/yegvx

 

CD: We're aware that we could win the title, its not something we’ve talked about or focused on.

CD: For that to happen it would involve us relying on someone else and so far this season we’ve just focused on ourselves.

CD: We’re focused on Dundee, we know it’ll be a hard game. Paul Hartley won manager of the month and rightly so.

CD: We'll stay focused on the things we can control, we can’t focus on what happens with Aberdeen.

CD: If it happens, great, but it’s not something that we’ll worry about.


CD: It's been a fantastic season, we’ve performed consistently. 33 wins and two draws which is one of the best domestic runs I can remember.

CD: Players know it’s important to focus on big picture. The manager does that, he’s our leader, he’s someone who gives us that perspective.

CD: We’ve had a great season, we've made the fans proud so far and we want to keep it going.

CD: A word the manager uses a lot is ‘relentless’, that’s what we want to be. The players have been so good, they’ve given everything.

CD: The players haven’t let up at all, we had 28 wins on the bounce, 35 undefeated domestically, you can’t take that for granted.

CD: Leadership is so important, the manager we have has great determination, he’s a winner. He’ll do it every day and he’ll never stop.

CD: The culture the manager has instilled here is that we’re here to be winners and be at our best every single day.

CD: We’re confident this weekend we can put in a performance and get a result.

 

IN any season and in any league, to remain undefeated domestically after 35 games is extremely impressive and worthy of praise. For Celtic, that remarkable run has consisted of 33 wins and just two draws.

It has delivered the League Cup to Paradise, established a 25-point lead at the top of the Premiership and booked a place in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup.

But there will be no let-up from Brendan Rodgers’ squad, either this Sunday when they take on Dundee at Dens Park or in any of the remaining fixtures this season, as assistant manager Chris Davies explained at a press conference at Lennoxtown today.

“The word we talk about, and the manager uses it a lot, is relentless, and that’s what we want to be,” he explained. “That’s how we try and define ourselves, and the players have been so good all season, the mentality for every game, and they give absolutely everything every day and every game, so you can’t fault them and we just have to keep going.

“Thirty-five games unbeaten domestically – you can’t take that for granted, what level you have to be out there. It’s a culture we’ve tried to instil. The manager’s come in and made that clear from day one that we’re here to be winners and be at our best every single day, and I think that culture has spread and we find ourselves where we are now.”

Having known Brendan Rodgers for many years, Chris Davies is well aware of the qualities the Celtic manager possesses, and the players are benefiting from those qualities as a coach and a leader. Davies also explained that leaders within the squad have played a key role in the team’s success this season.

“I’ve known Brendan for over 15 years and it’s a natural thing,” he said. “He’s a leader, he’s got a real desire to win, and he’s got a real demand on himself and those who work for him in every department of the club – he expects a certain level and he will help people try and achieve to be their best.

“It’s a natural quality that has perhaps evolved over time. He’s been a coach for a long time and that’s a big part of it as well – his experience – but he is a strong leader and that’s very important when you’re at a massive club like this. You need a strong leader.

“In any team or organisation, it’s the leadership. It’s the manager we have and his determination. I’ve known him a long time and he’s a winner and he’ll do it every day and he’ll never stop, and that creates that feeling that you’ve always got to do more, and there’s also the leadership within the team.

“I look at Scott Brown – I’ve mentioned him a lot of times – and senior players are absolutely vital. In Brendan’s managerial career, he’s had some really good senior players, captains and leaders – players like Gary Monk and Steven Gerrard – and Scott Brown is a fantastic leader. And he’s not just one who wants to do it in games. He does it in training, in every drill, even when he’s warming up he’s fully focused and that is so important.

“So the culture is created is from the leaders and that starts with the manager.”

 

THE Celtic squad reported for training yesterday intent on preparing for today’s game against Dundee at Dens Park and putting all thoughts of what was happening elsewhere in the Premiership out of their minds.

And while Aberdeen’s victory over Hearts means that the Hoops cannot clinch the title this afternoon, Brendan Rodgers’ side are determined to take all three points and leave them on the edge of securing the league title for a sixth consecutive season.

Speaking ahead of the clash with Dundee, assistant manager Chris Davies said: “What we’ve done this season is just rely purely on ourselves and that’s what we’ll always do.

“So we’re focusing on Dundee. They had a good February. Paul Hartley got manager of the month and rightly so, so we know it’s going to be a really difficult game. We’ve had two close games against them so we’re just focusing on that – the game-plan and how we can perform, and we can control that.

“The big picture for us is that it’s been a fantastic season. We’ve performed consistently – that’s 35 games domestically unbeaten, with 33 wins and two draws. We’ve made the fans proud so far, we’ve taken a huge lead in the league and we just want to keep that going.”

The match at Dens Park precedes a break in domestic football, with the latest round of international fixtures coming up over the next 10 days.

Many of the Celtic first-team squad will head off to represent their respective countries, including six Celtic players who will join up with Gordon Strachan’s Scotland squad – Scott Brown, Leigh Griffiths, Craig Gordon, James Forrest, Kieran Tierney and Stuart Armstrong.

Armstrong, who has blossomed this season under Brendan Rodgers, will be hoping for his first cap, either in the friendly against Canada or the World Cup qualifier against Slovenia. And Chris Davies has praised the midfielder for the way he has applied himself and performed this season.

“He’s got the personality. He’s a winner, he’s a fighter, he’s got all those qualities and he’s got quality in his play as well, and he’s developing as well,” the assistant manager said.

“He’s an intelligent boy and he knows there’s a lot more development still to come. It’s really exciting for Stu, the future that’s ahead of him, and like all the players, it’s work hard every day, stay humble and keep going, and the good things will come.”

 

There are only three Premiership matches remaining before the six-in-a-row champions make their bid for the first domestic treble in 16 years, and a victory over the Dons at Hampden on, May 27, would secure that honour.

The Hoops have already overcome Derek McInnes’ men four times this season, including a 3-0 win in the League Cup final at the National Stadium in November, a victory which delivered the club’s 100th major honour.

However, despite Celtic’s blistering domestic form to date, the Hoops assistant boss is expecting a tough encounter in the North East.

“We wouldn’t ever link this game to the Scottish Cup final,” said Davies. “We look at this as an individual game. It’s a very difficult place to get a result at and they’ve had a very strong season, so all credit to them for that.

“Aberdeen are a very competitive side and a team with decent physicality. We know it will be a difficult game and we know the pitch won’t be quite as slick as Hampden. But, we’ve been up there and won already this season, and we’ve beaten them a few other times as well, so we’re confident that we know what to do in the game. Now, it’s just about the final preparation and hopefully we can get the result.”

He added: “A week is a long time in football and there are two weeks between the league game and the Scottish Cup final.

“Even a day in professional football can be a long time, let alone a fortnight. We’ll focus on trying to get a result on Friday then we’ll shift our focus to Partick Thistle, followed by Hearts. After that, we’ll think about Aberdeen again. We just go each time and hopefully get the win.”

The Hoops go into this Friday’s fixture at Pittodrie looking to make it 44 domestic games unbeaten. And, with the treble now firmly in sight, Brendan Rodgers could become only the third manager in the club’s history to deliver all three domestic honours in a single season.

“If we achieved the treble it would be very special,” Davies said. “I think as time passes, you become more aware of history and the fact that only two other managers have achieved it here at Celtic. At a club like this, where there is such a rich history, it’s special to think that we are close to it.

“However, we have to stay in the now and focus on the things we can control. I think if we do that, and we do what we’ve done all season, then we’ll be fine. It’s about retaining that focus but we all know that we’re close and we all know that it would be really special.

"We’ll fight and we’ll do everything we can to get there, there’s no doubt about that. Hopefully, in the end, we can be successful.”

 

CD reflecting on 12 months in Paradise: "Been brilliant. We knew what a big club Celtic was before coming and it hasn’t disappointed."


CD: "We've had a brilliant year here, personally and professionally, and more to come. A big couple of weeks coming up."

CD: "What we want to do is give the fans a team they are proud off & I think we have done that, and we want to keep doing that."

CD: "Will never forget the day Brendan was unveiled. My first time at Celtic Park. When I saw it, I knew what a big club it was."

CD: "We had our dreams and objectives for the season and been a special year."


CD: "To do what we have done, to beat records and to challenge for records is very good."


CD: "But to do it at one of the biggest clubs in the world with such a rich history and tradition has been really special."

CD: "We will reflect on it in years to come & enjoy it even more. Still living it & still going strong. A brilliant year & we keep going."

CD on his expectations: "The stadium is even louder than I thought it could get and the #UCL nights were special."

CD: "Had our objectives for the season and the manager has been clear on them all the way through. We have just tried to reach each one."


CD: "We are led by the manager and have a fantastic group of players and a real team spirit. Looking forward to the future."



CD on @MDembele_10 latest: "In light training and hopefully next week he can take some part in full training."

CD: "The next week will make things a bit clearer. He will give himself every chance to be available (for Scottish Cup final)


CD on team news ahead of @ThistleTweet clash: "A few bumps and bruises from the Aberdeen game which we are monitoring, nothing major."





CHRIS Davies believes Brendan Rodgers and the rest of the Celtic management team have delivered the club’s support a team they can be proud of this season.

Almost 12 months have passed since the Irishman was unveiled to 13,000 fans in Paradise and started his reign in the Hoops hot-seat.

It was Davies’ first indicator to the scale and passion of the Hoops faithful, and he has been thrilled that they have had plenty of success to savour over the current campaign.

Within a framework of attacking, entertaining football, Celtic have already clinched their sixth successive title, lifted the League Cup and returned to the UEFA Champions League group stages for the first time in three years.

Having gone 44 matches unbeaten in domestic football since the start of the season, and with only two league games remaining and a Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen to come, Celtic could create history over the next two weeks.

With so much still at stake this term, looking forward isn’t straightforward, but Davies is determined to keep bringing silverware and joy to the Celtic supporters.

“It’s been brilliant,” said Celtic's assistant manager, reflecting on the past 12 months in Paradise. “We knew what a big club Celtic was before we came and it hasn’t disappointed.

“We have had a brilliant year here, personally and professionally, and there is still a lot more to come.

“We have a couple of big weeks coming up but it’s been a brilliant year for all the fans and what we want do is give the fans a team they can be proud of. That’s all you want to do at a football club, and we have done that this year and we want to keep doing that.

“A year ago seems a long time when you think about it. I will never forget the day we came up to see Brendan get unveiled and it was my first time at Celtic Park and I just knew what an amazing club it was when you saw it in the flesh.

“It’s been a special year. To break records and to challenge for records is very good but to do it at one of the biggest clubs in the world which has such a rich history and tradition is very special. It’s something we will reflect on in years to come and enjoy it even more. We are still living it and still going strong. It has been a very good year and we keep going.

“We have set a high standard,” continued the Englishman. “There is an awareness of what we are doing is something incredible. We are 44 games unbeaten and everyone inside and outside of football will acknowledge how good that is, but our whole template in how we have been successful has been focusing on the present - on the next meeting, the next training session and the next game - and that has brought success, so we won’t change that process.

“Hopefully next season will be another great one for Celtic. That’s what we are working hard to do but we will see what happens with the rest of this one first.”

Everything has lived up to Davies’ lofty expectations but the noise generated by the Celtic support has blown him away.

“It’s even louder than I thought it could get in the stadium, and the Champions League nights were special, as is every game,” he said.

“We had our objectives for this season and the manager has been clear on them all the way through, and we have tried to reach each one as we have gone along the journey.

“We are led by the manager and we have a fantastic group of players and a fantastic team spirit and we are looking forward to the future.”

 

He's an important part of things at our club..

 

Same with others in background working away.

 

Correct.

Him and every other staff member have played a massive part of our success and Brendan always goes out his way to show his appreciation.

 

Unsung heroes