Rodgers on Celtic's progress, Scales' rise, injuries & 'outstanding' Simeone

With a crucial double-header against Hearts and Atletico Madrid fast approaching, Brendan Rodgers has been speaking exclusively to Celtic TV about his side's progress, Liam Scales' rise and how much he is relishing the coming week.

Rodgers on Celtic's steady progress:

“Steadily as we have gone through the season, the players have become more aware of what I’m asking from them and I’ve been pleased.

“Sometimes when you come into a club, and especially with the team having success before, there’s maybe a feeling there’s going to be a lot of change, but my observations were it didn’t need a lot.

“There were certain tweaks of what I wanted to see and sometimes that can get overthought.”

A squad update from the Celtic manager:

“[Maik Nawrocki] is doing very well and trained over the last week or so.

“We only have Stephen Welsh and Liel Abada who will hopefully be back in December time.

“Thankfully that’s starting to ease off and we’re starting to get numbers back in what’s going to be a busy part of the season."

Rodgers on Scales' rise to first-team regular:

“In a matter of weeks, Liam has gone from a player thinking he’s leaving Celtic, to playing regularly in the team, to playing in the Champions League and making his international debut.

“That’s how football can work for you if you stay focused and concentrated, and I’m absolutely delighted for him, but now consistency is the name of the game.”

Rodgers on relishing a trip to Tynecastle and the visit of Atletico:

“Tynecastle is always a difficult place to go to, but we will relish the game and the atmosphere.

"We’ve shown this season that we can go into tough venues and get the results that we need and we want to go there and perform well.

“Atletico are an outstanding team and Diego Simeone has done an outstanding job over many years there.

“He’s been there over a decade and been really successful so we know the challenge and know they are a very good side.

“We will go into this game and look to give absolutely everything and see if we can learn from the previous two [Champions League] games.”