In an welcome development at Celtic, manager Brendan Rodgers confirmed that he has held promising talks with winger Liel Abada, suggesting that the player is eager to work under him after rumours of a move away during Ange Postecoglou’s reign.
The Hoops boss praised the Israeli winger, telling RecordSport: “We had a nice conversation, a really open conversation, when I came in. He sat in the office and I just wanted to know what his ambitions were and what he wanted to achieve. He is very keen and he really wants to be here to improve.”
Rodgers took over the helm at Celtic earlier this summer, stepping into the void left by former boss Ange Postecoglou. His arrival has sparked a fresh sense of hope and aspiration at Celtic Park, and it seems he’s already making strides in retaining some of the club’s key talents.
This is particularly welcome news for Celtic fans who have been following Abada’s journey over the past two years. His exceptional talent and goal-scoring prowess have lit up some very big games. The first post pandemic derby at Celtic Park is a particular favourite.
Rodgers acknowledged Liel isn’t in a rush to move on and wants the chance to become even better at Celtic. “He really wants to be here to improve. But he also understands there needs to be competition when you are at a top club. That pushes you.”
On the Israeli forward’s style of play, Rodgers commented: “Overall I like his game when I was watching from afar. I like his runs and he has a real killer instinct in front of goal.” Rodgers, renowned for his knack for nurturing young talent, sees immense potential in the Israeli.
Abada’s aptitude for finding the back of the net did not go unnoticed. “You don’t get that many goals unless you want to score – which I love. There are other areas we can look at to help him get to another level,” said the Celtic boss.
It appears that Rodgers and Abada have found common ground and a shared vision for the player’s future at Celtic. The manager’s ability to reinvigorate the player’s motivation and commitment underlines Rodgers’ reputation as not just a tactician, but also a manager who connects with his players on a personal level.
The news will undoubtedly delight Celtic fans and should fuel renewed optimism ahead of the new season. With a rejuvenated Abada under the guidance of Rodgers, we can expect great things from the Hoops in the coming months.
