Celtic ‘have to put right’ recruitment strategy – Brendan Rodgers

“We shouldn’t have been getting into this last week in the position we’re in. That’s the reality. However, that’s something for us for after this window.”

Rodgers has brought in goalkeepers Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo this summer, while striker Adam Idah and midfielder Paulo Bernardo have completed permanent moves after last season’s loan spells.

However, he has talked of the need, in particular, for extra cover at left-back, central defence, up front and now two midfielders to compensate for O’Riley’s exit.

“As I said, we’ll get the players in that we want – we don’t need to manufacture our own stress when there’s no need,” he said.

“That’s the reality. However, that’s something for us for after this window. We want to develop, we want to improve. We can’t be happy just to make our money and build our pot because the bottom line is on the pitch.”

Rodgers believes the club owes it to the supporters to build on their success.

“The supporters, they pay the money,” the manager said. “I look back to the Covid times here, the Celtic supporters sold the stadium out and they weren’t allowed in it, so we have the duty to put the best team on the pitch.

“We can do it by Friday, strengthen the squad, we’ll be in a really, really good place, but we want to strengthen and have that depth. It’s taken a lot longer than I would have liked as the football manager.”