da bet nacional： As reported by The Daily Record, Brendan Rodgers is planning to put player rest at the forefront of his mind in the closing stages of the season, ahead of massively important European qualifiers this summer.
What’s the story?
da pinup bet： Celtic still have major goals between now and the end of the season, despite being very likely to wrap up the Scottish Premiership title within the next week.
With a potential domestic treble on the cards and the possibility of going the entire domestic season unbeaten, the Hoops have plenty of interest left over the next couple of months.
However, Brendan Rodgers is set to put player rest at the forefront of his mind, once the upcoming matches against Rangers are out of the way at least.
As quoted by The Daily Record, Rodgers said:
There would be quite a few I would have a look at, not just the Scotland players. And not pre-semi-final because you are in danger of breaking rhythm. I have to look after the welfare of the players. That is what I’ve always done because I have to manage forward if we are going to go into the Champions League qualifiers.
There are of course the complication of international matches in the run up to Celtic’s first games of the season, with Scotland due to play England in a massive match that could see up to six or seven Celtic first team players feature.
Celtic will play Rangers twice in one week at the end of April with the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden and the last league meeting between the two at Ibrox to come.
Plenty to play for – why rest?
While it’s important performances don’t dip before those games, Rodgers is correct to prepare early for the massive summer qualifiers.
It’s often said those matches are the most important for Celtic each season and that’s because of the financial bonus the club receives when they make the group stages of the competition.
That cash could be the difference between regressing or progressing in their attempts to make the Hoops a force once again in Europe. They simply can’t afford to miss out and if that means rest players at the end of the domestic season to the detriment of short-term form, then it’s worth it.