Celtic fans will be paying close attention to Brendan Rodgers’ press conference on Tuesday, ahead of the rescheduled Dundee match—but the game itself feels like a sideshow compared to the real issue at hand.
With the January transfer window now closed, Celtic find themselves in a weaker position than they were just ten days ago. Rodgers had publicly stated his desire to strengthen—particularly in attack—yet the club failed to sign a striker, leaving the squad dangerously short up front.
The question now is: Will Rodgers toe the party line, or will he voice his frustration?
Rodgers is no stranger to handling difficult media questions, and there’s a strong chance he’ll play things down, focusing on the strength of the current squad rather than openly criticising the club’s transfer business. But he could give a few cryptic answers, which he’s no stranger to either.
But there’s no getting away from the reality—Celtic didn’t act decisively, and it could cost them dearly.
With Kyogo sold to Rennes, Celtic were expected to bring in a replacement, even a short term option to play backup to Adam Idah until the summer. Instead, they will enter the second half of the season relying solely on the Irishman, a player who, while impressive in recent weeks, went 13 games without a goal earlier this season.
The only alternative is Daizen Maeda moving centrally, but that weakens the team’s left wing, where he has been in outstanding form.
With Luis Palma also leaving on loan, the squad is now thin in two key areas, a completely avoidable situation given that the club had months to prepare for Kyogo’s exit.
Celtic’s failure to strengthen feels like a self-inflicted limitation ahead of the Champions League play-off against Bayern Munich. The club boasts about its financial strength, yet when it came time to invest in real European ambition, they did nothing.
With the league title all but wrapped up, Celtic should be in a prime position to chase another Treble. But with only two strikers in the squad, what happens if Idah or Maeda get injured? Suddenly, an easy run-in could become far more difficult.
The decision not to strengthen feels like an unnecessary risk, especially when Celtic’s financial position would have comfortably allowed for reinforcements.
Rodgers knows the questions are coming. Will he express his true feelings, or will he sidestep the issue?
Either way, the frustration among the fans is real—this wasn’t about reckless spending and panic buys, it was about being prepared for the biggest games ahead. Celtic failed to do that, and now, Rodgers and the squad will have to manage the consequences.
