Chris Davies Hired As Rodgers Assistant

MOUSSA Dembele has frequently hogged the headlines this season with his heroics for Celtic, not least in the games against their city rivals Rangers, up front.

Scott Sinclair, too, has stood out with his eye-catching displays on the left wing and his staggering haul of 25 goals in all competitions.

Kieran Tierney, meanwhile, has gone from strength to strength at left back despite having to undergo surgery and spend three months on the sidelines.

And Stuart Armstrong has finally, after a year and a half of frustration and false dawns, established himself as a first team regular in central midfield and forced his way into the Scotland side at the same time.


But for Chris Davies, the Parkhead club’s assistant manager, the three men who have been critical of the success which Celtic have enjoyed under Brendan Rodgers in the past 12 months are often, if not overlooked, taken for granted.

Davies believes that senior players Scott Brown, Craig Gordon and Mikael Lustig must accept many of the plaudits for the Champions League qualification, 44 game unbeaten domestic run and Betfred Cup and Ladbrokes Premiership triumphs.

Should the Glasgow club defeat Aberdeen in the William Hill Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen at Hampden on Saturday week and so complete only the fourth treble in their history then he will feel the holy trinity of Brown, Gordon and Lustig will deserve much of the acclaim.

“There are so many great stories from this season,” he said. “I have enjoyed the main story recently which has been Scott [Sinclair] because I have known him for so long and I have been so happy for him.

“He has gone from maybe not enjoying his football so much to having an amazing season so I have loved that. I have loved the development of players – Stuart Armstrong, of course, as well as players like Callum McGregor and Kieran Tierney and younger players who have developed and evolved as the season has gone by.

“But in addition, I have loved the influence of the senior players. That is so important. They should never be forgotten because they are the glue that holds it all together; Scott Brown, Mikael Lustig, Craig Gordon have been excellent for us and they are leaders within the dressing room.”



Both Brown and Gordon had points to prove at the start of the 2016/17 campaign after Rodgers succeeded Ronny Deila; the former’s form dipped dramatically last season and the latter took time to adapt to his new manager’s demands of him and found himself out of the side.

But Brown, the captain and central midfielder, has been a man reborn while Gordon, the goalkeeper, has improved to such an extent that Chelsea, who were crowned English champions last week, were keen to sign him during the January transfer window.

“The best stories are always the ones where someone has to show resilience,” said Davies. “That is the example of Craig. He fought his way to get back into the team and has stayed there. That is what Stu has done as well.

“It is a great quality to have because life is not always that easy and you have to be able to bounce back and show that reliance and keep working hard. It is always great when there is a player out of the team and you see them trying to work, trying to develop and the get back and they stay there.

“Usually that is why you see that development – because they have been out of the team and they have had to recognise, right, I need to do this, this and this, whatever the manager has fed back to them that they have to improve on. They go away, they do it and they become a better player for that experience.”






The sparkling form of Sinclair, though, has been particularly pleasing for Davies given that it took £3.5 million, a considerable outlay for a club like Celtic to secure his signing, from Aston Villa.

“Scott was at Swansea when Brendan took me there,” he said. “I have known him ever since then. In our first season he was the key player in our promotion season and then in the Premier League he scored goals. Then he went to Manchester City and we went to Liverpool.

“The manager identified early that Scott would be perfect for the club and for the team and it is credit to the club for getting him in because he is a Premier League quality player. He scored on his debut and has been great. It has paid off.”









CHRIS Davies, the Celtic assistant, last night stated the players who are on the brink of going the entire domestic season undefeated and landing the treble will form the nucleus of the side which attempts to qualify for the Champions League next term.

Davies has been helping manager Brendan Rodgers to identify players who can help the Scottish champions make a bigger impact in European competition in the 2016/17 campaign in recent months.

But the former Welsh youth internationalist has stressed the team which will complete a clean sweep of domestic trophies if they defeat Aberdeen in the William Hill Scottish Cup final at Hampden on Saturday week won’t be radically overhauled in the summer.

“We’re obviously looking at ways in which we can improve our squad,” he said. “That’s the key. Can we improve what we’ve got?

“But we don’t want to make loads of signings. It’s knowing that there are one or two quality signings who can be brought in that can help us, develop us and improve us as a team and a squad.

“But we also recognise the players who have been here have developed into even better players and are vital to us as well. We want to keep them and keep that continuity. As all teams will say, year on year we want to improve, but we want to develop players as well.

“You’ve got to look after your own and develop players you’ve got at the club and with good recruitment can you bring in others.”

Celtic will play their first Champions League qualifier on either July 11 or 12 and Davies admitted signing their targets early so they can take part in a full pre-season programme before the first leg of the second qualifying rounds kicks off.

“That’s the ideal,” he said. “Obviously, with the way it works we are back in training on June 19 and the first Champions League qualifying games are early July.

“We’d like to get people in and the squad together as quick as we can to get them all working together. We have got players we are aware of. It is quality players that can improve us and the focus of that is keeping our best players and keeping that continuity.”

 

Next manager maybe..?

 

Handsome *.

 

Been said before, but he really does need a song.

 

CELTIC assistant manager Chris Davies insists the Bhoys are calm and focused as they attempt to make history in the closing weeks of the campaign.

By the end of the month, the Hoops could have clinched the club’s first treble in 16 years and gone the entire domestic season unbeaten, a truly astonishing level of consistency.

But the champions still have plenty of work left to complete such a fantastic feat. Tonight (Thursday), Brendan Rodgers’ side will take on Partick Thistle in their penultimate league fixture of the season at Firhill, and three days later they will entertain Hearts on the day they get presented with the Scottish Premiership trophy for the sixth successive year.

Should Celtic negotiate those obstacles unbeaten, they still have to face runners-up Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup final next weekend.

And while Davies accepts there will be pressure on the squad in these circumstances, he is confident in their ability to handle the situation.

“The atmosphere is one that is relaxed but focused,” he said. “People are calm and enjoying their football but everyone is aware, and the manager has spoken to the players a lot and he has identified it in the press about managing and dealing with pressure.

“From the very start of the season, there was an immense amount of pressure on us, and the players had to deal and perform with that. There are some great moments we can go back to, and that’s what you do in your mind, you back in your mind and think how you dealt with that and came through that test.

“We are coming to the real business end of the season now, so there is an awareness of what’s coming and what we have to do but at the same time, we don’t sit and worry about it. We just prepare.

“This is our 57th competitive game we are going into, and our whole model and process of work is to prepare a plan for the match, get the players as fit and conditioned and ready to perform as possible, and then go and work as hard as we can and show as much quality as we can in the match.

"That’s all we focus on in terms of Partick Thistle, then it will be Hearts and Aberdeen. That process has served us well and we won’t be changing that. We know what is possible but you have to stay in the current moment to be successful.”

Moussa Dembele is making progress following his hamstring injury but he remains a doubt for the Hampden showpiece with Aberdeen on May 27.

“He’s in light training and hopefully next week he can take some part in full training," said Davies. "It’s a progressive rehab he is going through. He is starting light training on the grass and next week will make things a bit clearer. From my understanding, it will be too early to say. He is a very conscientious guy and he will give himself every chance of being available in some capacity for the final.”

Aside from the French striker, Davies revealed there were no major concerns ahead of the Glasgow derby against the Jags.

“We have a few bumps and bruises from the Aberdeen game which we are monitoring but nothing major,” he added. “It’s just something we will have to look at.”

 

I wonder if he has aspirations to be a Head Coach and be his own boss.

Certainly has enough about him.

 

Think this guys contribution is somewhat underplayed. He's always up at Rodgers talking in his ear and his influence is clear to see. He was the one that saw the shooting opportunity when Armstrong scored that free-kick and yesterday when Rodgers was celebrating the goal he was straight in his ear to get Sviatchenko on. I really like the guy and I think he compliments Rodgers perfectly.

 

Definitely. A fantastic assistant and seemingly a lovely guy too. He always speaks very well too.

 

Yeah noticed the Erik thing too. A * genius.

 

Was about to pick up on this, spot on.

You're right, he's always in Rodgers ear and for the most part, it seems as if Brendan acts upon a lot of his advice.

I hope he learns a * ton over the next couple of years as he will no doubt be linked to the top job.

 

CD: "This time last year when we travelled to Slovenia we were still getting used to everyone and how things work."

CD: "Obviously we are now a year on. It’s been a year working with the players and we know them a lot better."


CD: "We are looking forward to a good week in Austria. Few games to get us ready for the #UCL qualifiers."


CD: "We are in a good place and hopefully this camp will allow us to refocus and come back stronger."

CD on @jonnyhayes15: "Settled in very well. I’m pleased with him, he’s had a good first few days."


THE Celts are now winging their way to their Austrian training camp to prepare for the upcoming friendly matches there as well as in the Czech Republic and Ireland before the season gets underway for real in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers.

Games against BW Linz, Rapid Vienna and Slavia Prague await before a trip to Dublin to play Shamrock Rovers in the final preparation before the Hoops take on either La Fiorita of San Marino or Linfield in competitive action.

Prior to jetting to the continent, assistant manager, Chris Davies spoke to the media at Glasgow Airport and was delighted at the change in circumstances compared to this time last year.

He said: “It feels good. Obviously we are a year on now, we’ve had a year working with the players and we know them a lot better. This time last year we were just getting used to everyone and how it worked, but now we’re up and running and we’ve had a good week’s training.

“We are looking forward to a good week in Austria and these few games will get us ready for the Champions League qualifiers.”

He added: “We know everybody a bit better, we know the squad better and we’ve had a year working with the players and developing the areas that we wanted to when we first came in, so we’re in a good place.

“Hopefully we can go away to this camp and refocus together and come back stronger.”

Last year, of course, in the first competitive game of the season, Celtic experienced that surprise defeat to Lincoln Red Imps in Gibraltar before Brendan Rodgers and Chris Davies regrouped the players.

They then embarked upon a record-breaking invincible season in which they not only won the treble, but also took the club to the groups stages of the Champions League for the first time in three years.

Davies said: “That was a difficult game for many reasons, and they are all difficult games away from home and you have to go and get a result and bring it back to Celtic Park.

“We found that tricky but, again, if you look at the team then and where we ended up in the season, that was a long, long way from where we started because we really didn’t know the players that well. So it certainly feels better being a year on and we’re looking forward to getting underway.”

 

anything about signings @Notorious

 

Nope.

 

CELTIC were last in action barely a month ago when the final piece of the invincible treble jigsaw was put in place at Hampden on May 27 as the Scottish Cup was added to the trophy haul on the closing day of the season.

Since that 2-1 victory over Aberdeen, players and fans alike have be hankering for another game to keep that winning mentality and momentum going, but those Celts on international duty over the summer have had an even shorter break from competitive action – including the likes of Leigh Griffith who returned to Hampden to score two unforgettable free-kicks in a 2-2 World Cup qualifier draw with England.

However, assistant manager, Chris Davies feels that the shorter break away from football has increased the close-season fitness levels of the Hoops.

He said before the squad departed Glasgow Airport for the pre-season training camp in Austria: “It’s a little bit different in England where you can have six or seven, or sometimes even eight weeks away.

“Some players have had the three weeks’ rest after the cup final while others have had 10 days and some possibly even less.

“So we’ve managed that in terms of physical conditioning to make sure that they are in the best place possible.

“But we have noticed straight away that they’ve come back in really good condition and that is linked to not having such a long break.

“So we’re happy with that, they are nice and fresh and have great enthusiasm and energy for the new season, so that’s all good.”

He added: “Everyone’s here, everyone’s happy. We’ve had a great week and it was great for everyone to come together again after being away from the club for a few weeks. There’s a great spirit and a good feeling.”

Among those who performed in that Scottish Cup final a month ago was Jonny Hayes who wore the red of Aberdeen that day, and who scored the Pittodrie side’s goal, but the Irishman is now gearing up for football in the green and white of the champions.

Davies said: “Jonny Hayes has been settling in very well. He’s been training now for two or three days.

“He’s come in with the group and I think he knows some of the guys from playing against them. He’s a player we know well anyway and he’s had a great few days, so now he gets the chance to come away and train a bit more and settle in more.”

 

CD on Boyata: “Unfortunately for Dedryck, it looks like he is going out to be out for a few months with a medial knee ligament injury."


CD: "It’s really disappointing for Dedryck. He did really well for us for the last six months of last season and was in good form."

CD: "We are all disappointed for him, but no doubt he will do the work he has to do in rehab and come back even stronger and better."

CD: "The timeline that the medical team are looking at is up to three months but we are always optimistic and we will see what we can do."

CD if injury to Boyata changes transfer strategy: "Something we will discuss & see what needs to be done. Comfortable of where we are at."



CHRIS Davies insists Dedyrck Boyata will bounce back better than ever after it was confirmed today that the Belgian internationalist would miss up to three months of the season with medial ligament injury.

The centre-half, who was outstanding for the Invincibles in the second half of the last season, sustained his injury on the stroke of half-time of Celtic’s goal-less draw with Slavia Prague on Tuesday.

And as the Hoops prepared to jet out to Dublin for tomorrow’s friendly with Shamrock Rovers, Davies revealed the extent of the 26-year-old’s injury when he spoke to the media at Glasgow Airport.

“Unfortunately for Dedryck he picked up a knee injury the other night and it looks like he is going out to be out for a few months with a medial knee ligament injury,” said Celtic’s assistant manager.

“It was almost like a blocked pass. He dragged the ball back and as he has gone to pass it he has jarred the knee and that has obviously affected the ligaments.

“It’s really disappointing for Dedryck. He did really well for us for the last six months of last season and was in good form, alsogetting an international call-up.

“We are all disappointed for him, but no doubt he will do the work he has to do in rehab and come back even stronger and better.

“It looks like a bad knee injury. The timeline that the medical team are looking at is up to three months but we are always optimistic and we will see what we can do.

“It’s unfortunate for him, but we have players who can play in that position and we will support him in his rehab”

And while the loss of the commanding defender will be a setback for Brendan Rodgers’ side, Davies was confident they had strength in depth to cope with his absence, adding that it wouldn't alter the club’s transfer strategy.

“Not necessarily,” he said. “Obviously we are aware of Dedryck being out now and it’s something we will discuss and see what needs to be done. We are comfortable of where we are at.

“We have said before that we happy with the players we have here at the minute and if the right players become available and we can do the right business for the club then we will like to do that as well.”

 

Hope we had a few centre backs in mind prior to this. Don't want us panic buying for such sn important position.

Lustig isn't good enough in there either, before anyone mentions him.

 

Got to agree we got away with it last season with O'Connell and Toure at CB for Astana and Hapoel.

Probably get Toure back now playing on a 1yr deal

 

CD on start of competitive campaign: "We're feeling good. Had a few weeks to prepare and we are all looking forward to the game.

CD on Linfield: "Difficult game. Know their strengths & weaknesses. Expecting a difficult game but confident we can do the job."

CD: "The most important thing is we come back to Celtic Park in a positive position."

CD on team news: "The squad is looking good. No new injuries that stand out. Scott Brown is travelling."

CD: "@OlivierNtcham will stay behind and hopefully get some game-time against @OL at the weekend."

CD on availability of Scott Brown:"Delighted. Our leader on the field, an experienced player, used to delivering in important games."


CD on @OlivierNtcham :"Will be involved in the game at the weekend, been training for a few days. Shouldn't be too long."

CD: "He knows @MDembele_10 so that personal connection is there already. Been at @ManCity for a few years so understands the culture."

CD: "He's a really nice genuine guy, a lot of qualities he can bring to the team so we are delighted to have him."


CD on @Gary__11 who joined @AberdeenFC on Wednesday: "We have played on record our respect for Gaz."

CD: "Even though he wasn't in the team, he did what any good professional does and worked hard every day."

CD: "Great with players who were playing - supportive."

CD: "He didn't let himself down when playing, but wasn't getting as much game-time as he would have liked."

CD: "A very talented player and we genuinely wish him all the best at @AberdeenFC and for the future,"


CHRIS Davies insists Celtic are relishing the start of competitive competition this season in Friday’s UEFA Champions League second qualifying round first-leg against Linfield.

The Bhoys will face the Blues in Belfast on the back of four pre-season friendlies and several weeks of rigorous training sessions, and the Hoops assistant manager is confident that the Invincibles are ready to face David Healy’s side in the crucial European tie.

“We're feeling good and looking forward to it,” he said. “We've had a few weeks now to prepare for it and get us ready. Everyone is looking forward to the game and we want the competitive games to start as that is what we enjoy the most.

“It will be a difficult game. We have analysed them and we know where their strengths and weaknesses are. We have done our work as normal.

"Any away game in qualifying is difficult so that is what we are expecting, but we're confident we can do the job, and the most important thing is we come back to Celtic Park in a positive position as the game is obviously over two legs.”

Scott Brown is fit to face the Windsor Park side, despite coming off in the first-half of the thumping 9-0 win over Shamrock Rovers in Dublin last weekend, which Davies admitted was a huge boost to the Scottish champions.

“The squad is looking good," he said. "We have no new injuries that stand out. Everyone is travelling. Scott Brown is travelling. He’s our leader on the field. He’s an experienced player and a player who is used to delivering in big, important games. He’s vitally important to us, so we're delighted he’s fit and raring to go.”

New Bhoy Olivier Ntcham has not travelled with the squad following his arrival from Manchester City on Wednesday, but supporters should be able to get their first look at the France Under-21 internationalist in Saturday’s friendly with Ligue 1 side Lyon.

“Olivier will stay behind and hopefully get some game-time against Lyon at the weekend,” said Davies. “He has been training a few days and he will be involved in the game at the weekend. We will see how he goes. He has to be at a good level before he comes into competitive games but he shouldn’t be too long.”

And Davies revealed that the highly-rated midfielder had settled in well to his new surroundings, helped by his existing friendship with compatriot Moussa Dembele.

“He knows Moussa so that personal connection is there already,” added the Englishman. “He’s someone who has been at Manchester City for a few years so he understands the culture and it’s not new to him.

"He’s a really nice, genuine guy and he as a lot of qualities as a player and a lot of qualities he can bring to our team. We are delighted to have him.”

 

Celtic TV interview

https://streamable.com/t1h7r