Brendan Rodgers has spoken about Celtic’s upcoming Champions League play-off against Kairat Almaty, with the long trip to Kazakhstan not ideal for anyone.
However, having made a similar journey in the past, he’s confident the club is well set up to deal with the demands. The first leg will be played at Celtic Park on Wednesday, before the squad makes the lengthy trip for the return leg on Tuesday 26 August, a challenge both on and off the pitch.
The Celtic boss admitted most would’ve preferred a shorter journey, but there’s no time for complaints. It’s a tie that needs full focus, and Rodgers believes past experience helps. He praised the club’s operations staff, including First Team Operations Manager Brendan O’Neill, for making sure every part of the travel plan is nailed down, from transport to accommodation.
Rodgers stressed how important good planning is for a tie like this. It’s not just about how the team plays, but how well everything is put in place ahead of time. Below are his full quotes from Celtic FC’s official YouTube channel, giving insight into how he and the club are preparing for what’s ahead.
Attention now turns to two vital matches. Celtic will aim to build a lead in Glasgow before heading to Almaty for the second leg. With a league phase spot on the line, every decision, from the pitch to the planning room, could prove decisive.
He said: (Celtic FC YouTube), “Great! Probably like everyone else, but listen, if we’re honest, I think everyone would have preferred the closer team and not so much of a journey.
“Listen, it is what it is. We’ve been there before, and the first leg we want to make a real push to set a standard in that game on Wednesday, and then we go there the following week and look to qualify. Such a huge game, big game and when it comes, we’ll be ready for it.
“Well, I think that operationally we were very, very good. I think there’s no stone unturned to make sure the preparation’s right. We’ve got a brilliant operations team here, with Brendan O’Neill, who leads that.
“Wherever we go, the pre-season, everything, he and his staff, they do a brilliant job along with the club in organising and making sure flights and hotels and everything.
So logistically, we’ll do everything we possibly can to make the journey and the preparation, because that’s what it’s all about. You’ve got to try and prepare for such a mammoth journey, so the preparation is key for that.
“After this actual press conference, we’ll have another sort of meeting on that. But the club will do everything they can, I’m sure, to ensure the preparation is what we would want.”
Rodgers’ honesty about the long trip to Almaty shows he’s being realistic, not frustrated. He knows Celtic often face tough situations like this, and that experience helps. His focus is clear: get a strong result in the first leg at Parkhead to put the team in a good position.
Off the pitch, the spotlight is on the operations team led by Brendan O’Neill. Rodgers made it clear that getting the travel and planning right is just as important as what happens during the game. It’s a big part of getting the team ready for European football.
Supporters can take confidence from how well the club is planning things. The journey to Kazakhstan will be demanding, but the plan is simple: reduce any problems, focus on recovery, and make sure everything is in place to help the team perform well.
The message is clear: do the job at home, then travel knowing every detail has been handled. When the games start, all the behind-the-scenes work will count for something on the pitch.
