Chris Davies Hired As Rodgers Assistant

CD on @Leighgriff09 & @eriksviat latest: "Leigh will be travelling with us. He has been working hard to get back available for selection."

CD: "As has Erik Sviatchenko, who is coming with us as well. Like Griff, has had his rehab process & will be travelling with us a boost."

CD: "We had our last training session this morning & Erik & Griff took part in that & they are coming with us and that’s important."

CD: "I don’t want to give too much away in terms of whether he’s going to start or not but available & an important player to us."

CD on @Leighgriff09:"Manager works closely with him & has a good relationship with him, really pleased he's available for selection.

CD on #UCL second-leg: "At Celtic Park, we dominated, created a lot of half chances but we had control, think it'll be a different game."

CD: "It was a tight game and it was very important we didn’t concede an away goal. That sets it up nicely for us."

CD: "Just have to be calm, controlled & play our normal game, & make sure we have aggression with & without the ball, & we will be fine.”


CELTIC have been handed a boost with the news that Leigh Griffiths and Erik Sviatchenko are in contention to feature against Rosenborg in tomorrow night’s crunch UEFA Champions League qualifier.

The duo missed the first-leg of the third round qualifier in Paradise, which finished 0-0, because of injury but assistant manager Chris Davies today revealed they were available for selection in Trondheim as the Scottish treble-winners prepared to jet out to Norway

Speaking to the media at Glasgow Airport, Davies said: “Leigh will be travelling with us. He has been working hard to get back to being available for selection, as has Erik Sviatchenko, who is coming with us as well. Like Griff he has had his rehab process and he will be travelling with us to Norway which is a boost.

“We had our last training session this morning and Erik and Griff took part in that, and they are coming with us and that’s important as we have more availability.

“Leigh has not been training all the time in the last few weeks but he’s had some good rehab and he’s worked very hard. He is available for us, which is a good boost.

“I don’t want to give too much away in terms of whether he’s going to start or not, but he’s available, he’s an important player to us and that’s really good for us going into the game.”

With Moussa Dembele’s consigned to the treatment table with a hamstring injury, Griffiths’ return to fitness is particularly timely.

However, Brendan Rodgers does have other attacking options, with James Forrest turning in an impressive performance up front in Saturday’s 5-0 rout of Sunderland in the Dafabet Cup.

“We have got options,” said Davies. “Obviously James played up there and did well and the team performance was good. It’s something we've sat down and looked at as staff. We have the game-plan we want and we will roll it out tomorrow night.

“We have lots of players who are important in scoring goals and creating chances but Griff has been an important player to us since we have been here,” continued the Englishman. “The manager works closely with him and he has a good relationship with him, and we are really pleased that he is available for selection.

“We don’t want to give so much away going into the game but he’s available and he will be with us and he’s looking forward to the game.”

With the first-leg in Paradise ending in a frustrating goal-less stalemate for the Bhoys, the tie is evenly poised ahead of the return match in Norway.

But Davies believes keeping a clean sheet at home could prove vital for the Celts as he expects the match in the Lerkendal Stadion to be a more open affair.

“At Celtic Park, we dominated - we created a lot of half chances but we had control of the match," he said. "I think it will be a different game.

"If you look over the history over the competition, the first-legs are always tighter in the qualifying process. It was a tight game and it was very important we didn’t concede an away goal. That sets it up nicely for us.

"We just have to be calm, controlled and play our normal game, and make sure we have that aggression with and without the ball, and we will be fine.”

 

Celtic assistant Chris Davies says there are no plans to sign anyone ahead of Champions League play off v Astana
https://mobile.twitter.com/AlisonGConroy/status/894529118171222016

 

CD: "We played well on Saturday. Got the goals we deserved, dominated the game and it was a good result."

CD: "Getting quicker and stronger as each game goes by. Focused now on @OfficialKillie."

CD: "We have six games in 20 days so we have a squad we need to use. Everybody has to be ready."

CD on @patrick7roberts: "The situation is always open because the window is still open. Not something I can give you too much on."

CD: "We are a different team than last year in terms of the way we are organised. Everyone's playing more collectively."

CD on @OfficialKillie: "We know it's a game we'll hopefully dominate. Hopefully if we get the first goal then it should set us up."

CD on being asked about the potential of adding Shaun Maloney to the #CelticFC coaching staff: "Something the club are looking at.

CD: "I've met him once or twice and been really impressed. Brings a lot of experience and of course his Celtic connection."

CD: "Don't know exactly what's happening there so we'll see how that evolves over the next couple of days."

CELTIC take on Kilmarnock tomorrow night (Tuesday) in the opening tie of their defence of the League Cup – the first of the treble trophies to find its way to Celtic Park in the Invincible season.

If the Hoops aim to be in the hat for the next round, they will have to ensure the Invincible run remains intact when the Ayrshire side visit, and Brendan Rodgers' side go into the tie on the back of yet another win - Saturday’s 4-1 Premiership victory over Hearts when the six-in-a-row title flag was unfurled.

Speaking ahead of the League Cup tie, assistant manager Chris Davies said: “The Hearts game was positive, we played well and got the goals we deserved as we dominated the game, and it was a good result. Our match-fitness is getting better as the players are getting quicker and stronger as each game goes by.

“The squad is better than last year and we are a better team than last year. We played Hearts on the opening day last season and then again on opening day this year and, for me, the difference is in the way we played.

“We won the game late last year and needed some quality from Scott Sinclair. But now we are a different team from last season in terms of the way we are organised. Everyone is playing more collectively and we are in a better place than we were.”

While the Hoops head into the game on the back of a convincing win over the Edinburgh side, Lee McCulloch’s Kilmarnock visit with the still-fresh memory of an 89th-minute goal by Michael O’Halloran giving St Johnstone a last-gasp 2-1 win at Rugby Park.

However, Davies knows Kilmarnock have the ability and know-how to pose a threat, and they will not be underestimated.

He said: “I think Kilmarnock are doing their best with the resources they have and they are going to pose a threat on the counter-attack. You can see they have some players with quality who can be fast on the counter-attacking transition moment.

“Lee's got them together and Kristoffer Ajer speaks really well of his time on loan there. They were unfortunate at the weekend to get off to that start but they are in the Premier League so they'll bring a certain level of quality and experience.

“We know it's a game we'll hopefully dominate and look to try and break them down. Hopefully if we get that first goal it should set us up.”

 

Like the way he speaks, very professional.
Can see why Rodgers rates him highly.

 

Naw mate not good enough we want a player now.

 

I think we'll make two signings anyway but the calibre will differ..

 

Aye. Roberts or gms back better qualify.

 

Agreed.

 

Been hearing this sort of thing for about 5 years now.

 

Davies said on Monday: "Nothing will be done tonight. We had injuries to Dedryk Boyata and Erik Sviatchenko which is unfortunate in that position but we are where we are and we're happy with that and comfortable.

"We're not in a desperate situation. We're comfortable. We have six games coming up now in the next 20 days so we've got a squad that we need to use and use everybody, and everybody has to be ready.

"In terms of recruiting players, it's something we're always looking at what's going to be the right player for the club and suit everything we need, but certainly nothing is going to be done today to change that."

Doesn't rule out a wildcard.

 

Excellent insight and honest assessment today, Daly... the * could take a look at the level of diplomacy and maturity in his comments.

 

His celebrations at Ntcham's goal

 

Aye that was class..

 

Love him

 

https://mobile.twitter.com/AnnmarieA1888/status/900095823941427200/video/1

 

https://mobile.twitter.com/_AndrewAngus/status/900117941303336960/photo/1

 

John Kennedy a second behind everyone else celebrating. Clearly on the way out.