Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has been experimenting with new tactical approaches during the team’s pre-season

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has been experimenting with new tactical approaches during the team’s pre-season

Captain Callum McGregor has also said that the team is working to address specific issues faced by the team in previous campaigns.

Last season, Celtic often struggled to penetrate the defences of teams that adopted a deep-lying, defensive set-up. Additionally, the team occasionally faltered in converting scoring opportunities, an issue they are keen to rectify.

However, McGregor expressed confidence in the team’s new tactical tweaks and has seen positive signs in pre-season to suggest that the squad are taking the adjustments on board.

McGregor said to RecordSport: “We are in a good place. You could see the fluidity of the football is good, along with the counter-press and tactical ideas.

“It kind of feels like we’ve picked up where we left off, when you look at the slickness of the game the other night. It’s good because we’re really understanding the model of how we want to play.

“Teams will give us different problems but we know we have different answers now. It’s important to keep drilling that home. The players look good and are comfortable in the system. It’s now about getting the work in with another tough friendly against Chelsea before it starts for real the following Saturday.”

The skipper has led Celtic to two doubles and a treble since taking over the captain’s armband, not a bad record for his three years leading the club.

Without speaking too soon, with Celtic looking sharp and ready in pre-season, it could be set to be another successful year in Glasgow’s east end. But, the season hasn’t started yet, so let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.

Teams will give us different problems but we know we have different answers now. It’s important to keep drilling that home. The players look good and are comfortable in the system. It’s now about getting the work in with another tough friendly against Chelsea before it starts for real the following Saturday.”