Why Celtic need 'one or two' other signings this summer

Can we start with the news that your captain (Callum McGregor) has resigned from international football? What is your reaction to that?

I had spoken to Callum about that and was aware of his intentions. He's had a great seven years with Scotland. He has 63 caps and seven goals. From a selfish perspective, it is really good news for Celtic. He will get the chance to recover properly due to the number of games that he plays. This will give him those little opportunities to have a breather because he is really intense. That's what I love about him, his appetite to improve, and he never has a day off - ever. Even when he has a free day to recover he is thinking about the game. These little windows that he will have will give him the chance to do that. It is a fantastic career he has for his country and he can be very proud of that. He is now entering the next part of his career and all of his focus will be on Celtic.

You say you had discussions with him. How much advice did you give him on that decision? Do you expect it to prolong his Celtic career?

It was more of a listening exercise than anything. That type of decision and that kind of feeling has to come from the player and out of respect he wanted to speak to me about it. I think the humility around Callum was based on him thinking I would think any less of him by not being an international footballer by name. That's absolutely incredible. It was more just a listening exercise and respecting his opinion. I am sure he will have spoken to one or two other people as well. He was very clear in his mind after a long thought process. 

He's been a player for the national team for so many years now and you've worked with a lot of Scottish midfielders where does he rank in the modern game in terms of Scottish international players?

He has played for the last seven years and he has been pivotal to qualifying for the tournaments that they have done. Clearly, it tells you that he was instrumental in that. Deep down he will have his own reasons. I know Callum so well he has played so many games for me as a manager. I just know he will now look at this part of his career after playing so many games over 500 odd games in his club career and he will have many more to come. He will probably want to be able to look after his body and fitness-wise he is in a really good condition and he will be looking forward to the future.

There are more reports of a fresh bid for Adam Idah. Are you confident that this is a deal you can get over the line?

I am hoping by the end of the window that it can be done with some others. God willing we can get that sorted along with one or two other players.

We saw Celtic's midfield on Sunday with the three that started and it is something we didn't see too much of last season because of injury but if you can keep those players here and fit, how pivotal will they be to your success this season?

Very much so. In any midfield and in my history as a coach, the midfield three is always important. It is never about one player, it is always about the three. I think it was only until the latter stages of last season that those three came together. You saw the flow and the dynamism and how it makes the team function. I thought the team overall was very good last weekend in terms of how we pressed the game and respecting that side of it which has been a big part of pre-season. We are a team that has up to 70 per cent possession. Last week it was 82 per cent. The area I always concentrate on is respecting that 30 per cent or 18 per cent whatever that is as that is what will bring our attacking game to the levels of intensity that we want. Our first goal was on the counter-press last weekend and that stimulates everything else in the game. Those three midfield players over all the other players played very well.

What kind of challenge are you expecting from Hibs this weekend?

I am delighted for David (Gray) that he has got the opportunity. I was sad to see Nick (Montgomery) move on. David is a young manager at 36 years of age and it doesn't seem that long since I was 35 and starting my managerial career. It has gone so fast. I am excited for him and he is at a club that he knows really well. He has had three caretaker stints. He will feel that now is the right time to step forward. He is a club legend. He helped the club to one of the greatest days in its history and he is now taking the step into becoming a manager and he will be really excited about that. He will be excited about his first game at home as the Hibs manager. For us, our philosophy is always that we prepare for a special game and this being the next one then this will be a special game after a very good performance last weekend. That's what we have prepared for all week.

Can I just take you back to Callum’s decision? In the Euros, it looked like players were different from the long season and games. In a general sense, are we asking for too much of players to play so many games?

I think the top players that are playing lots of games both at clubs and internationally, it is becoming a challenge for them. I would go as far as to say that football is becoming like a business as for some it’s a 12-month season. We may find that going forward you may have to give players rest and breaks during the 12 months. It might not be in the summer or whenever because they’re playing so much. I think you've seen that in the Euros, that tiredness in a whole raft of teams and players. I think in terms of Callum’s position, we were very clear on what he wanted to do and he can look back on many great memories as a Scotland player. Now he can fully concentrate on Celtic and his family.

Has it been something you’ve been looking at - giving breaks during the season? Is that something you need to think about?

You always do. However, it’s more what you do throughout the season. You can do it at that point, so there is no right or wrong in it. I’ve given players before periods over Christmas and other little chunks of time. It is something that has to come into your thinking because they’re not machines. Some of these guys and the games that they’re playing, and the intensity that they’re playing at is at a very high level and some pressures come from with big clubs. These are things that you try to manage with the player.

Are you aware of anything that changed Callum’s opinion on Scotland? When we spoke to him in America, he seemed very black-and-white with playing for Scotland.

I’m not aware of anything. I had a conversation with him. It was more of a listening exercise than anything else. Nothing that I am aware of has inspired his decision to retire any quicker. He’s reflected very quickly into here and then away on tour. He’s clearly had some thinking time on it.

You mentioned the Idah deal and making sure you get that done by the end of the window. Is there a sense of urgency in terms of managing Kyogo’s minutes and having to play him more than you would like to at this stage?

Not really, no. It’s very early in the season. I think at this stage of the season - between now and the international break - there’s arguably not too many changes to your team anyway. It’s more when you get in after the international break and then you’re through into European football where you make changes. Not too many, though, because you want consistency in the team but you’re trying to maybe make a few changes or pick a certain player for a certain game. At this stage of the season, even if we had the squad that we wanted at this point in time, there still might not have been many changes, because if you’re winning, working and playing well, then you might not need to. I just think going forward with everything else and coaching time then you want to have the players in as soon as possible. Hopefully before the end of the window, the gaps that are clear in the squad that are clear and that we need to improve are acted on, whilst never shutting the door to our young players. 

You mention European football. The club has a large surplus of cash in the bank, and if we’re going to strengthen and have a real crack at the Champions League then sure it’s now or never this season. Is that right?

I’ve always said that recruitment is vital for success on the football pitch. Bringing in the players that allow you to elevate the game. Especially when you go up in the Champions League then the recruitment of players is crucial. Especially in the big clubs, if you don’t get it right then you have very little chance to put it right. If you don’t bring in a player that suits your style and is suitable for the football that you want to play - improving that player when there’s very little time is very difficult. That’s why you want to get in not just A player but the RIGHT player who can elevate you and the team’s game and that he’s a sufficient level. It will allow you to improve. That’s absolutely key. I’m looking at by the end of the window for signings, and that is when you can judge. I know that supporters want to see that team on the pitch, and as managers, we want the players in quickly and integrated. At the end of it, if we can get to the end of August and have a stronger squad than what we finished with last season, it will still be a successful window for us. The point you make is absolutely correct - to have success on the football pitch, you need to recruit, and you need to recruit the best possible players you can, if you want to achieve in European football.

Would you prefer if the window closed before the season starts? Can the deadline be disruptive in any way?

Only if it was aligned the same throughout Europe. I was in the position once where that happened down in the Premier League when it was shut, but the rest of Europe was open. The problem is you can still lose your best player to a European team, but you can’t replace him. As long as it was aligned across Europe then it would be fine, but if it’s not then you would have to keep it open.

Is that the case with the Matt O’Riley situation, as the season has already started and you don’t know what the end result will be?

Yeah, but it’s just framing it for the players. I’ve spoken with the players on that, that this can be a difficult period. There is a lot of emotion and emotional leverage being used by agents and all sorts of things going on to try and get players. You have to just manage it as best you can and keep the team focused on what you want to achieve over the course of the season. This period is a difficult period naturally for players and for everyone. We can only keep our focus on the next game and the next training session. Thankfully, the players have been absolutely brilliant, I have to say. The behaviour and the respect shown to everything we’re trying to do has been brilliant, even though there has been speculation. For the likes of Matt, he’s been fantastic. People might say ‘Do you have to be not nice to get a move’ and that’s not the case. He’s a good guy, his training is exemplary and if a club meets the valuation that the club thinks he is worth and can go then that will happen. I repeat, the value of the players will have to be matched before the club can consider it.

Is there a contingency plan in place in case it drags on and then he does leave at the end of the window?

Part of improving our squad is getting all the players of quality in. We always have to be ready and braced for that. It can’t be a surprise, but we don’t want Matt to go, first and foremost. We know the club’s model and how it works, but there’s no rush to move Matt. We would love him to stay here and be here. I can see it in himself - he’s really happy. If you have the chance to change the conditions in your life and a club makes an offer that is of great value, then you have to look at it. There always needs to be that contingency in place, for sure.

What about Daizen Maeda? Is he fit?

He’s okay.