Brendan Rodgers and that Rangers supporting bloke from BBC Scotland

Rodgers insists that even if no fresh recruits arrive before next week’s Champions League tie with Kazakh side Kairat Almaty, he is confident tackling it with his current squad.

After seeing his team cruise past Falkirk 4-1 to secure a Premier Sports League Cup quarter-final berth, the Irishman quickly found the post-match focus shifting to Celtic’s muted transfer activity.

BBC Sportsound’s Alasdair Lamont pressed Rodgers on whether any new arrivals were expected ahead of the Champions League playoff encounter next week.

Speaking via BBC Sportsound, Rodgers said: “I don’t know, I have just come out of the game here. We will wait to see, we have named the squad before the game. if not that is the squad that we are going with.”

When asked whether he felt positive about completing any signings, the Celtic boss responded: “Ok, let me repeat what I have just said. I have just finished the game. During the 90 odd minutes of the game, I don’t know anything. I don’t know anything. There might be, but there may not be, but we have the team that we have.”

It is clear Rodgers is shaping a strong team, with only a few pieces and quality missing in the forward areas before his side are ready to challenge across every competition this season.

However, in order to compete on all fronts and do so competitively this season, the manager needs backed. It needs to happen. The clock is ticking for Celtic’s board to add quality and support the manager.

While it is right to point out Celtic still need an injection of quality, last night was a decent evening for Rodgers’ side, who will look to ignite their campaign by sweeping aside Kairat Almaty next Wednesday — an encounter that will offer the clearest measure yet of where this Celtic team are at.

Here’s what was said when BBC Scotland’s Alasdair Lamont had interviewed Rodgers before and after the 4-1 win over Falkirk in the Premier Sports League Cup tie at Celtic Park.

Lamont: You’ve had to name a squad for the Champions League deadline, but you are allowed to name a further two players before the game. Do you see any likelihood of there being players to add to that squad?

Brendan Rodgers: “I don’t know. I’ve just come out here after the game, so we’ll wait and see. We’ve named the squad and we’ll wait and see what happens before the game. If not, that’s the squad we’re going with.”

Lamont: Can you be optimistic about it? There must be things in the pipeline that I guess you think could go one way or another

Brendan Rodgers: “Okay, so let me repeat what I said. I’ve just finished the game. I haven’t told you anything before the game and during the 90-odd minutes of the game. I don’t know anything. I don’t know anything. So there might be or there might not be. So we have the team that we have.”

Lamont: Okay. Cheers Brendan.

Not too keen in Celtic that bloke from the BBC. Wonder what team he supports…

*(He’ll hate his name being in green)

Conor Spence