Brendan Rodgers has addressed growing questions over Paulo Bernardo’s future at Celtic, with the midfielder struggling for game time in the early part of the season.
Bernardo was unused in the opening two league matches and managed just 15 minutes off the bench in Friday night’s Premier Sports Cup win over Falkirk.
Rodgers, speaking to CeltsAreHere ahead of a packed run of fixtures, highlighted the intense competition for places and suggested there would be opportunities to come for players currently out of the starting XI. However, he stopped short of offering any guarantees over Bernardo’s role moving forward.
Celtic’s schedule ramps up this week with three matches in eight days, including Saturday’s Premiership clash and the first leg of their Champions League fourth round playoff against Kairat Almaty at Celtic Park on Wednesday night.
The Irishman pointed to the need for a fully fit squad ready to rotate. Bernardo’s future remains uncertain, but Rodgers insists the midfielder remains firmly in the mix.
He said: “It’s a very competitive squad in our backline and in the midfield area.
“He’s one of a number of good players that we have in there. And sometimes how it works in football, the ones that aren’t playing, you get asked and then it switches about. But I think what we see in this early stage, especially when there’s been one game a week, is that the team stays pretty similar.
“I obviously changed it against Falkirk, knowing that we’ve got this game, knowing we’ve got a game Saturday and then a game on a Tuesday. So they’re quite tight. I needed to make sure some of those players that might play in those games are up to speed.
“But I think once you get into Europe, you need every player. And Paulo is a very talented player and he’s one of a number of talented players in midfield.”
Bernardo’s lack of game time so far has raised doubts about his role under Brendan Rodgers, with the midfielder still waiting to make an impact this season.
Rodgers’ comments suggest he still sees a place for Bernardo, especially with the Champions League play-off coming up and a heavy schedule ahead.
Celtic fans will be watching to see if he gets more minutes this weekend or if his time at the club is starting to come to an end.
