The Irishman says he’s looking forward to rebuilding the squad with new players.
The Hoops boss expressed his sadness last week when the winger was sold to MLS side Charlotte FC. Abada had barely featured in Rodgers’ team since returning from injury in December. Two months previously, his country went to war with Palestine whose flags are regularly waved by supporters at Parkhead.
From then, Abada wasn’t in the right frame of mind to play for the club. Despite Rodgers’ efforts to try to resolve the situation, the 22-year-old felt pressure from fellow Israelis, given Celtic fans’ support for Palestine. Eventually, the manager had to admit defeat and let Abada go to America for a fee of around £6.5million. But Rodgers is adamant the controversy around Abada at Celtic won’t put him off bringing a player from Israel to Glasgow if it will improve his side. When asked if it would stop him signing an Israeli in the future, he said: “No, because I just want good players. It doesn’t matter where they are from. “We want good players here, whatever nationality or creed. We want players who come here, fit into the culture and develop. This is an incredible club to come to, where you learn how to be a winner, and to deal with pressure and expectation. “With a player from any nationality, they have to fit the culture and manner that we want to work in. But it certainly wouldn’t stop me, no.” After the departures of Abada and Alexandro Bernabei – who went on loan to Brazilian outfit SC Internacional – Rodgers is already planning for NEXT season. Keeper Joe Hart is retiring this summer and there are question marks over the futures of several Celtic stars. And despite being in the midst of a tense title race with Old Firm rivals Rangers this term, Rodgers says he’s looking forward to rebuilding the squad with new players. Following the resignation of former recruitment chief Mark Lawwell, the manager said: “I’m really excited about next season, having now had a look at this group. I’ve seen players who were out for a while and I want to develop this squad. “There’s a lot of work going on on that front. Is it a chance to put my stamp on it? Yeah, because I think we lost influential players who make the game look different. Those players weren’t just good footballers but they were personalities. It’s hard when you lose that personality from the team. The guys have been great this season with everything that’s been thrown at them. But it’s about seeing what it needs, how it can develop and grow. “I had to give guys who were here an opportunity because they’d just come off the back of a Treble-winning season. But I also know because of my experience in football – especially at clubs like Celtic – that there’s a revolving door every three or four years. Even if you’re a winning team you have to fire up the squad again. That’s something we’ll look at doing in the summer.”But that hasn’t dampened his desire to have a long-term impact at Celtic in his second stint as gaffer. On his return to the club, Rodgers stated that he’d be at Parkhead for at least the length of his three-year deal. And even if his side aren’t crowned champions, the gaffer says nothing will change on that front. Rodgers said: “Unless I get told otherwise, that’s my expectation. That was the whole thing I had to consider coming back. In a funny way I’ve enjoyed this season as there have been so many disruptions and hurdles. But I feel we’ll benefit from that long-term. We’re in a great title race right now and we’re still in a good place.” One player who could be added to the squad permanently is on-loan Norwich striker Adam Idah, now Celtic’s first-choice striker ahead of Kyogo Furuhashi. He still has four years on his Canaries contract and Rodgers revealed there is no option to buy this summer in the current loan agreement. But the gaffer said: “I’m excited to work with him. He thrives on the pressure here and has a hunger to improve. So we’ll assess that at the end of the season. It’s not all in our hands.”
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