Making him a much better player
doing it with the strongest club in the county.”
Signed for Celtic to replace Fraser Forster two and a half years ago, Ronny Deila was able to benefit from the keeper’s resolution, determination and class to return to his peak.
Rodgers’s arrival at Celtic has, after some teething with me a lot on the training ground and I feel as though I am getting better all the time.
“I want to keep pushing. I want to keep getting better and I feel as though I can do that here.
“I was always confident I would come here and score goals. I have always believed in my ability.
“But I am a better player than I was this time 12 months ago, that is for sure.”
Dembele is now looking forward to trying to secure the Treble for Celtic this campaign.
He added: “We are calm. We are just looking to keep going in every game. It is nice to be winning, it is nice to have the lead that we do.
“But we still want to be better. problems, taken him to the next level.
Dropped for Dorus de Vries, Gordon listened to what Rodgers wanted, worked on doing it and has returned better than ever.
Once almost scared with the ball at his feet the keeper is now a composed passer and even taking chances in trying to beat players in his own box.
Kirk added: “I’ve nothing but good things to say about Craig but Every player here wants to get better. We are as hungry today as we were at the start of the season.
“We treat every team we play against in the same way. We won’t go into the game thinking anything else other than we have to work hard.
“We feel confident every time we step on to the pitch but we know there is no such thing as an easy game.” I must admit even I was a bit surprised to see him taking on one against ones in his own box against St Mirren at the weekend!
“But the way he has worked this season to get back epitomises what I said about him earlier.
“Craig’s calm. He works hard and worked to get better every day when I was with him. I’m sure that’s not changed now.
“No one could have expected that Chelsea would be interested in him in January and that’s just a mark of the way he’s performed at Celtic.
“He’s been a top-class goalkeeper right throughout his career and it looks as though he’s improving even now at the age of 34.”
Now the form is being rewarded with a handsome new deal at Celtic to take Gordon through to 2020.
And Kirk said: “I can’t speak highly enough of him.
“He’s a great lad and I couldn’t be more pleased for him. He’s got nothing left to prove.”