Rodgers: My Bhoys won’t give it a rest

some players will be offered time off. However, the Hoops boss says his players do not want to down tools in a season that could deliver only the fourth domestic Treble in the club’s history.

“This season I’ve said to one or two players at times ‘listen I want to give you that period of break’ and they didn’t want it,” said Rodgers.

“They didn’t want it. They wanted to work, to still be here. I suppose the environment we’ve fostered here, the spirit’s good, they want to be in here, they want to prepare themselves, and that’s unique really.

“It will be each individual club’s plan, but for us, we periodise the full season. You have to look at each individual and make sure there is a plan, so we created that a while ago.

“So the players know where they are at in terms of their recovery and rest. That’s vital.

“We know what our objective is for pre-season – qualify for the Champions League and gain our football fitness.

“They’ve been incredible and once the season finishes some of them will have some days before they meet up for internationals.

“Then we are back in on the 19th with some back on the 22nd. How our work’s periodised they will be ready and flying for pre-season.”

Meanwhile, Rodgers has urged Leigh Griffiths to seize his chance in the coming weeks with Moussa Dembele sidelined with a hamstring strain.

The Parkhead boss last night said Dembele ‘had a chance’ of making the Scottish Cup Final on May 27, depending on the results of scans.

Rodgers believes Griffiths’ confidence remains high despite what has been a difficult campaign for him.

“You don’t score 40 goals and not know where the net is,” said the Celtic manager.

“Domestically he’s top quality in terms of his ability.

“So there’s a little period now for him to step up and show his qualities.

“He knows how much I appreciate him and how much I want him to be the very best player he can be. So we have to help him through periods when he’s not playing.”