Mark Devlin 
Ian MacNicol/Getty Images Sport
Brendan Rodgers has reflected on his side’s remarkable 2016/17 campaign, though isn’t getting too carried away as work is already underway in preparation for next season.
Much of the Hoops squad returned to Lennoxtown for pre-season training yesterday, as the treble winners prepare to travel to Austria, Czech Republic and Ireland for friendly games.
Though Rodgers remains calm and is looking for the Scottish champions to grow stronger as the new season approaches.
As quoted by the Daily Record in an interview with Celtic TV, Rodgers said:
We’ve had enough time to reflect and enjoy what was an historic season, but also enough time to look forward to the new season.
The momentum hash’t really been broken, as such. The level of which they’re at, when I compare it to last season, is day and night of a difference.
The achievement was monumental, really. It’s still very early — we are building something here.
Last season was incredible but we can only improve and get better as we go on.
Some of our players are still young. Our average age of the team is 25, so that tells you there are still a good few years of development in the squad itself.
Now we’ve a defined way of playing, the confidence and quality of that can only increase.
29-year-old Irish winger Jonny Hayes has been Rodgers’ first and only signing of the current window, though the Hoops manager is keen to bring in more players granted they fit his style:
On the field is where it matters and we have to keep investing in the team — in the technical and tactical terms, and in improving the squad.
I have had great support since I’ve been here that if the right players become available, then we will do everything we can to bring them in.
The Scottish treble winners kick-off their pre-season tour in Austria on June 28th, where they will face BW Linz.
Three days later they face Rapid Vienna, then it’s a match in Dublin against Shamrock Rovers July 8th.
A Champions League second qualifying round tie against either Linfield or SP La Fiorita awaits them soon after, though dates for both legs of that tie are yet to be confirmed.
