Celtic starting to gel under Brendan Rodgers, says Andy Walker
Thursday 4 August 2016 13:08, UK
Sky Sports pundit Andy Walker believes Celtic are starting to gel under Brendan Rodgers just in time for the start of the Scottish Premiership campaign.
Celtic start the league season live on Sky Sports with an away match against Hearts, in what is usually a fierce fixture, and one of the longest traditional rivalries in Scottish football thanks to fans rallying to save the Tynecastle club from the clutches of liquidation in 2014.
And the Hoops start the defence of their title full of confidence after a dramatic 2-1 victory over Astana in the third qualifying round of the Champions League.
Celtic's two summer recruits Kolo Toure and Moussa Dembele came on as second half substitutes to make an impact on a nervy night, with the tie in the balance going into stoppage-time.
And Dembele made a lasting impression when he scored with a pressure penalty, his first goal for Celtic in four competitive appearances, to secure a 3-2 aggregate win.
Walker reckons the level of performance has improved over the past three weeks, as he explained on Sky Sports HQ.
"Yes I think so. Slowly but surely the team is coming together," the former Celtic striker said.
"A bit surprising perhaps that Brendan Rodgers has only managed to bring two players in as yet.
"But I think when you look at the contribution of Dembele, he needed that goal last night, he didn't start the game, he's looked a bit clumsy, he's looked a bit awkward in his first few games.
"But that was a pressure penalty he took last night and he handled it with a lot of confidence, he dispatched it with a bit of conviction, it will do him the world of good.
"And I think Kolo Toure signing, clearly Celtic need strengthening at the back, and he should certainly do a job for at least a year or two."Live SPFL Football
