Breaking News:Brendan Rodgers’ firm stance on young players is the only way forward for Celtic
Celtic have endured a struggle over the years in retaining academy talent, and they haven’t brought through as many prodigies from Lennoxtown to the first team as some would’ve liked.
During the summer window, Rocco Vata and Daniel Kelly became the latest examples amid their departures to Watford and Millwall despite both being presented with contract offers to stay put.
In the case of Kelly, Brendan Rodgers refused to involve the youngster in pre-season after it became apparent that he wasn’t going to sign an extension to his deal, which was set to run out in December.
Adopting a hardline stance, the Irishman made it clear that he wasn’t willing to develop someone who didn’t want to commit to a new contract in Glasgow.
The 18-year-old left and will hopefully kick on south of the border, but his situation isn’t the first instance of Celtic losing young talent before they make a sustained breakthrough at senior level.
In light of what continues to become a growing problem across Scottish clubs, there is an argument that it needs to be Rodgers’ way or the highway when it comes to keeping young stars on board.
The prestige and demands of playing for Celtic
Firstly, Celtic aren’t like most clubs in the world. The expectation to win every week is heightened, and compared to a lot of other sides in different countries, there is very little margin for error.
Sometimes, throwing young players in at the deep end can prove a little tricky. One mistake in a big game can dramatically alter the mood music surrounding their development; there is not a lot of leeway for learning on the job
Taking things forward, you must be technically and tactically up to scratch to feature under an elite manager like Rodgers. Yes, prodigious talents can produce this over time, but off-the-ball discipline is just as important as work in possession.
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