Being on time and professional at a top club is absolutely vital. This was abundantly clear as Celtic’s young left-back, Alexandro Bernabei, learnt a tough lesson on the very first day of the SPFL season.
An oversight as mundane as an alarm not going off saw the Argentinian left-back miss his chance to potentially feature in the opener, which the Celts eventually won 4-2.
When quizzed about Bernabei’s unfortunate incident, a wry Brendan Rodgers quipped to SunSport, “Yes. His alarm is working now.”
The former Leicester City boss, known for his strong stance on discipline, expanded on the incident, expressing sympathy for his new recruit. “He has been brilliant in pre-season in terms of mentality and attitude and I felt for him,” Rodgers said. “The very morning of the first game of the season, whatever happened, the alarm did not go off. I don’t have time to wait.”
The Irishman’s experience in managing at the highest level has taught him the importance of punctuality and readiness. He highlighted the immediate consequences for latecomers: “If you start late in the game and you are not quite ready then the game could be dead. It’s gone.”
However, in a show of support for the young left-back, who is vying with Greg Taylor for a regular starting spot, Rodgers was keen to put the episode behind them. “We draw a line under it. He’s a good guy. You’ve got to learn and you’ve got to be ready,” he said.
The Celtic boss was unequivocal about Bernabei’s work ethic and his professional conduct thus far, stating, “His professionalism is fantastic and there is no worry.”
But he also noted the importance of maintaining high standards both on and off the pitch, saying, “When you come into a club the standard of your performance on and off the pitch is vital.” Rodgers ended with a message of encouragement, asserting, “We all make mistakes but you learn from them and you’ll be better for it.”
Bernabei found himself back in the squad for the subsequent match against Aberdeen, albeit on the bench, underlining Rodgers’ belief in the player’s potential.
Celtic made it two wins out of two in the SPFL with a 3-1 win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
