Brendan wants ‘friendly’ talk with Big Eck
With this s e a s o n’s European involvement now at an end, Brendan Rodgers has started laying the groundwork for the 2018-19 continental campaign.
The Celtic manager is planning to meet with new Scotland boss Alex Mcleish.
And top of the agenda will be the involvement – or otherwise – of his players in the country’s South American tour.
The planned 14,000mile week-long trip to play friendlies in Peru and Mexico in the summer has been the subject of huge controversy.
It was a factor in the departure of SFA chief executive Stewart Regan and remains a burning issue with the Hoops, who would stand to lose up to eight of their stars at a time when they would otherwise likely be resting up ahead of European qualifiers.
One which Rodgers is keen to address sooner rather than later.
“I will speak to Alex on that when I meet up with him, something I will look to do over the next couple of weeks,” he said.
Also up for discussion is likely to be the ongoing involvement of Celtic skipper Scott Brown, who has already retired once from international football, only to return, and is yet to declare whether he intends to play on for the national team under the new regime.
“I have not really talked to Scott. Alex will speak to him on it and we will go from there,” said his club boss.
Rodgers, meanwhile, has dismissed as fanciful, claims Aberdeen could be catching Celtic at the right time this afternoon.
The Hoops go into the Pittodrie clash off the back of a 3- 0 loss to Zenit St Petersburg which ended their Euro involvement for the season.
With the game played last Thursday night they will also have only been back in the country for just a couple of days.
Rodgers, though, has heard it before and argues the circumstances surrounding the last game between the pair in the Granite City – won 3-0 by the visitors – were even tougher.
Then Celtic had to face their challengers at the end of a week which they had had to play Bayern Munich in the Champions League plus a League Cup semifinal against Hibernian.
“Every time we have played Aberdeen there has always been a story around us going there. That it might be their chance,” said the Celtic manager.
“It was maybe going to be Aberdeen’s opportunity when we went there earlier in the season off the back of a difficult game.
“But, of course, we played exceptionally well.
“It’s still a very difficult place to go, so I am expecting a tough encounter.
“They will be disappointed with their last performance and result so they will look to