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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Josh McCafferty

Brendan Rodgers explains why Celtic didn't postpone Livingston game

Brendan Rodgers has explained why Celtic chose not to postpone their game against Livingston next weekend. 

In accordance with a new rule that the SPFL brought in to help Scottish teams in European play-offs, the Parkhead club could have pushed back the visit of David Martindale's side to Glasgow.

The match takes place between Celtic's Champions League tie with Kairat Almaty, although they have opted to play it. 

Speaking at a Lennoxtown press conference on Thursday, Rodgers explained the decision: "We’ll play the game," he said. "We looked at that [postponing] and decided that we wanted to play that for a number of reasons. 


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"Obviously, getting players up to speed and fitness, and yeah, we'll have a good squad of players here, and if I need to rotate it and change it, I can do."

Before the Livi game comes into view, or even the Kairat tie for that matter, Celtic have a last-16 Premier Sports Cup tie to contend with. 

They take on Falkirk at home this evening, and Rodgers is looking forward to an 'aggressive' game as he heaped praise on his old colleague John McGlynn.

He said: "I'm so happy for him as a guy and his football. I think what John has demonstrated in his time since he's gone back into management that talent and technique will always override power.

"Unless you have the resources and the money to get power and technique and talent, then it's sometimes a difficult ask and especially when you're trying to play football. And I look at his teams at Raith and I look at what he's done here now at Falkirk and bringing them up, and you see how they play and you see the attitude and energy they have in the game and the technical qualities that they have in the game.

"Him and Paul, his assistant, they've done a brilliant job and I am just so pleased for them because at the end there was a wee bit of a nervousness last year at the end, but they got the job done and I watched the game and it was a great night for them.

"He deserves all the accolades he gets. He's been absolutely fantastic and like I said, they've demonstrated their game idea and how they want to play and they have an inherent belief in that. And that football philosophy has led Falkirk to get promoted for the first time in years.

"So well done to him, his staff and his players and for us, we don't underestimate them tomorrow night. We'll be ready from the first whistle to be really aggressive in the game."

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