Jack Nayler

Quote:

Celtic boss Rodgers brings in man that helped mould Ronaldo and Bale's careers

JACK NAYLER helped superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale reach the pinnacle of European football with Real Madrid.

And Brendan Rodgers believes Nayler’s appointment as Celtic’s new head of science can give the Hoops the edge as they strive to continue their domination of Scottish football.

Rodgers is big into marginal gains, anything that can give his side a one per cent edge.

And as Celtic will have played a gruelling 44 games by the time the winter break comes around, Rodgers knows the manner in which his players live their lives off the pitch will reflect on how they perform on it.

That’s why he feels bringing in Nayler is vital as he wants his side to perform at their optimum level every time they cross the white line.

Nayler arrives with an impressive CV. The pair worked briefly together as Chelsea before Rodgers moved to Reading, and then Nayler followed Carlo Ancelotti to PSG and then on to Madrid. He was part of Ancelotti’s backroom staff when the Spaniards won their tenth Champions League in 2014.

Rodgers believes if Nayler’s methods are good enough to give Ronaldo and Bale the edge, then Scott Brown and Co can benefit too.

Rodgers said: “Jack is from good footballing stock as his grandfather is Keith Burkinshaw, who was manager at Tottenham.

“He worked well at Chelsea. When Carlo Ancelotti left Chelsea for PSG, he wanted him to go with him.

“Then he went from PSG to Real Madrid so he’s very experienced.

“What I’m trying to bring in here is a high level of mentality. When you work at those clubs, you’re coming from a top mentality.

“He’s fitted in well here as head of sports science. Fundamentally, he knows how I work.

“He did a great presentation on Friday, regarding the amount of games we’ve played. It’s all about sleep, hydration and preparation.

“You have to be the best you possibly can as you try to get that extra wee one per cent in the games.

“That’s important because by Christmas we’ll have played 44 games. It’s remarkable. So we need to be looking at details to rinse everything we can from the players.

“Jack has worked with the likes of Ronaldo and Gareth Bale at Real Madrid. He can pass things on to our players.

“Myself, Glen Driscoll and Jack have worked at the top level so it should be good enough for here.

“I have no egos in my team or in the backroom staff.

“It doesn’t matter whether you’re working with Steven Gerrard, Cristiano Ronaldo, whoever, we give them the best care we can in order to make them the best player that they can be.

“We’re building a team of people to give them the platform which will help them perform at the intensity levels I want.”

Celtic lock horns once again with Old Firm rivals Rangers today, with a place in the Betfred Cup Final up for grabs.

And Rodgers believes this is the perfect game for his side following their Champions League defeat in midweek.

He said: “What I say to the players is always pretty much the same – don’t get too carried away when you win, don’t get too down when you lose.

“You have to reflect, understand the reasons why when things don’t go to well for us. That is what we work on behind the scenes.

“Very quickly you put it to the side and we move on to the next game.

“They come thick and fast so you can’t afford to analyse too much.

“But there is no greater game to follow a defeat than a semi-final.”

Celtic will be heavy favourites to book a return ticket to Hampden following their 5-1 demolition derby of Rangers last month.
odgers isn’t concerned by the favourites tag but knows he possesses the personnel to hurt Rangers.

He said: “I don’t really think about that. It is certainly nothing that affects us.

“Going into the first game there was a lot of talk, but we just prepare for a very tough game.

“We also know we have the game that can hurt a lot of teams.

“Our job is to try and impose that game on to the opposition.”