Celtic’s preparations for the new campaign are underway, with players and staff back at Lennoxtown to begin the build-up to the 2025/26 season.
After a summer of rest and recovery, the hard work has resumed under Brendan Rodgers’ watch, with assistant manager John Kennedy offering insight into the squad’s mindset.
Kennedy, now a well-established figure in the backroom team, spoke to the club’s in-house media following the first day back. With the intensity of the previous season still fresh in the memory, the 41-year-old gave a measured reflection on the challenges faced and the expectations ahead.
While Celtic ended the season as Premiership winners, the disappointment of missing out on a domestic treble still lingers. Kennedy touched on the fine margins involved, but also the value of the break in helping the group reset both physically and mentally.
The squad’s early signs in pre-season have been encouraging, with players arriving in good condition and ready to build towards another demanding campaign.
He said: (Celtic TV), “It’s nice to see everybody’s face again. It’s been a good break, we’ve had time to reset, relax, get refreshed again, and the boys have come in this morning in pretty good shape and excited for what’s ahead.
“There are challenges in terms of the physical aspect, the demand of the game. We all know nowadays it’s huge, the physical outputs. Plus, the number of games that they go through.
“The guys were terrific last year. The way it finished kind of took the shine off it a little bit, but once the dust settles, and you reflect on how everything went, the guys were superb.
“They put everything into it, okay, just came up short in the [Scottish Cup] final, but the way we performed in the league, the league cup earlier in the season, the Champions League stuff, we can look back on that and take a lot of positives, and be positive going innto this season again.
“It’s good for them to reflect on that, but get a chance to switch off, let the legs recover, let the mind recover, and come in with the same hunger and desire to be successful again because that’s what the club demands. There’s no let-up.”
With European qualifiers on the horizon and domestic silverware once again the target, the coaching staff are keen to hit the ground running. The early sessions are focused on conditioning and rhythm, but the standards are already being set.
Kennedy’s comments highlight the balance Celtic must strike: learning from the past while keeping eyes firmly on what lies ahead. The squad’s mentality, shaped by last year’s ups and downs, will be crucial in ensuring the right response.
Celtic’s depth will again be tested this season with another packed fixture schedule expected. However, the club’s backroom team remain confident in the group’s ability to meet those demands.
The focus now turns to the weeks ahead, with friendlies and training camps to follow before competitive action returns.
