I’ll keep pushing limits at Celtic: Rodgers

BRENDAN Rodgers will continue to push for progress at Celtic but admits he has to “understand maybe where the limits are at times”.

Earlier in the week, the Ulsterman noted that departed midfielder Stuart Armstrong and winger Patrick Roberts had yet to be replaced and his fears that Celtic would lose out on target John McGinn were realised when the Hibernian midfielder signed for Aston Villa on Wednesday.

The Scottish champions have signed striker Odsonne Edouard from Paris St-Germain — for a club record £9m — and goalkeeper Scott Bain from Dundee, both of whom were on loan at Parkhead last season.

Asked if the board matches his ambitions, Rodgers (below) said: “I wouldn’t answer that. It’s private. I have a huge respect for the people here.

“The board of directors have created a very stable foundation for the club to work under for a number of years.

“I have to respect that. Of course as a manager I always want the club to be the very best it can be. Inside I am a supporter so I want to see the club progress but I am also the professional manager and I have to understand maybe where the limits are at times.

“But that doesn’t stop me wanting to push to do the very best that I can for the supporters but also for the players.

“I want Celtic to be the very best that it can be and whatever length of time I am here, I will always push for that.”

Rodgers does expect Australia international Daniel Arzani to soon sign on loan after the 19-year-old playmaker completed his move to Manchester City from partner club Melbourne City yesterday morning.

He is also hopeful that 32-year-old Honduras international Emilio Izaguirre will return to the club to provide cover for Kieran Tierney. Izaguirre is set to return to Celtic a year after leaving the Scottish champions for Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Fayha.

Rodgers said: “It will hopefully be complete in the next 24 hours. If we get Emilio in it will give us cover and experience.” HIBERNIAN began life without John McGinn with a scoreless Europa League draw against Molde at Easter Road.

Stevie Mallan almost took on the mantle of Hibernian’s midfield lynchpin with an impressive first-half display but he was denied by the crossbar and some decent saves.

Martin Boyle and David Gray also came close for Neil Lennon’s (right with Molde boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer) side but the visitors were largely comfortable in the final half hour as Hibs seemed to become more wary of the consequences of losing an away goal.