Brendan Rodgers and Austin Trusty on Celtic - Bayern UCL play-off first leg
11/02/2025
uefa24
11/02/2025
uefa24
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00:00Hi, good afternoon. Just in terms of the conference today,
00:07Brendan will speak first, followed by Austin Trustee.
00:09OK, thank you. Sky, please.
00:12Brendan, tomorrow night Bayern Munich coming here for Celtic's first knockout match in the Champions League in 12 years.
00:17Just how much are you looking forward to the occasion?
00:20Yes, we're very excited by it.
00:22It's a great challenge and a great test for us against the top side.
00:28So, yes, we're looking forward to it.
00:30Big news last night, that you're going to have Dejan Majere back for this one as well.
00:34Just give us your reaction to that.
00:36Well, it's such a great bit of news that we got, obviously, late last night, or early evening it was, sorry.
00:44So, no, he's an extraordinary player.
00:48I think how he's been this year for us, not just in goals,
00:53but what his value gives to the team in terms of his pressing and his honesty to the game.
01:02So, to have that mentality and that ability available was a big surprise for us, but a nice surprise.
01:14Brendan, on him, we see what he does on the pitch.
01:16What's he like as a guy?
01:18What's he like, I don't know, around the training pitch?
01:21Is there an edge to him?
01:22What's he like, does he mean?
01:26Like most footballers, they're good people.
01:28As a guy, he's super professional.
01:33He's in every day, does his work, does all the right things to prepare himself to be a top professional.
01:42He trains as he plays.
01:44So, he's very intense and gives everything in his training.
01:49Obviously, he then takes that personality onto the field.
01:54So, he's been an absolute joy to work with, and just seeing him develop and grow over the course of the season.
02:03I think his ability, his finishing, but add to that, like I say, the work rate and intensity,
02:13he's a really, really pivotal player for us.
02:16On that point about development, you're a development coach.
02:19You like to bring players on.
02:20What is it in particular that's pleased you about him?
02:23And what have you been saying to him to raise his game, because it looks like he's playing his best football?
02:28I think it's just maturity, isn't it?
02:30He's obviously improving as a player with experiences and obviously comfort in how we work and how we play.
02:40But I go back, I think he scored goals before he came into Celtic.
02:43Obviously, Ajax brings him in, having worked with him in Japan.
02:46So, he knows his qualities.
02:47He knows everything in his game.
02:50And as I said, he was a goalscorer over there.
02:52He's come to here.
02:53It may have taken a little bit of time to get used to the Scottish game and the British game.
02:59But you see now, he's right in flow.
03:02He understands the physicality of the game in these parts of the world and the physicality at the highest level in European football.
03:12So, he's well suited to that.
03:14And now, he's really getting in consistently into positions.
03:20And I think what you have with him, I think his conversion rate now is something that's improved.
03:26I think he's probably always had chances and always been there.
03:30But now he arrives with confidence to score.
03:32And now his technique, and he's finished, and he's top level.
03:35The coaches do a brilliant job with him in terms of the work.
03:40And I try to inspire him and manage him and point out little things within his game.
03:46But now, he himself is a learner and he's learning very well.
03:53And on the wider game tomorrow, how much of a gauge is this of the progress that you've made?
03:58You're there on merit.
04:00Bayern know it's going to be arguably your biggest test this season.
04:03How much of a test is that and a gauge of all the progress that you've made at this level in Europe?
04:10I don't think it's a gauge.
04:11I think we've already shown progress this season before we kick a ball tomorrow night.
04:16I've been really pleased with that side of it.
04:19I think over the course of the eight games, we've played Borussia Dortmund's top team, Atalanta's top team, Red Bull Leipzig, who come into the tournament as one of the leading teams.
04:31So, we've proven in this sort of first season that there's elements to our game that is making progress.
04:40But, of course, we were in it for the purpose and the purpose was to get to this stage, past the eight games.
04:46So, now we play probably one of the teams that will see themselves as favourites for the competition.
04:52We've got wonderful talent.
04:55Vincent's gone in there and done a really, really good job with some top young players and some really experienced players.
05:02But I can't wait for that because that's what you look forward to as a coach.
05:07I know we are all, as a team, looking to test ourselves and measure ourselves against an absolutely brilliant team.
05:17Brendan, we all know it's been a long time coming for Celtic to play these knockout European ties.
05:23How excited are you to see the atmosphere here tomorrow night and
05:28how big a sense of pride will you have leading your team out here against, as you say, a team in this competition to win it?
05:34How much pride will you have walking your team out?
05:36Yes, well, Bayern Munich are one of the giants of the European game.
05:42They really are football royalty in terms of what they've achieved over many, many years at this level.
05:49For us to be in a position where we can challenge them, it's a great marker for us.
05:55But, like I said, I know with our game, we mix up the basics of our game,
06:02all our running power and physicality, which is something that we've really improved on at this level.
06:10When I look back to 23-24, that's been a big part of our learning,
06:15bringing the physicality to the game and improving in that aspect of it.
06:21I think if we can do that, and with the energy and the support behind us,
06:24then anything is possible in the game.
06:28I think what is important for us is that we're very much alive in the tie going over to Germany.
06:35I think that would be the key message for us.
06:38But we want to go and perform.
06:40We're not frightened to lose.
06:42That's not what this is about.
06:45This is about going and performing, and if we can perform well,
06:50like we've shown in this competition, especially at home,
06:52hopefully we can get what we deserve.
06:54Just on that, how important is it to your players that they're not necessarily going out there just to be alive?
07:00In seven days' time, they're going out there to try and win the game,
07:03take the game to Bayern Munich here at home?
07:06That's virtually what I said.
07:08Yes, we're here to win, of course.
07:12Brendan Callum McGregor said the other day that he thinks you have to win the first leg to have any chance of getting through.
07:17Do you go along with that, or do you think it could be tighter than that?
07:22You don't have to, but you want to.
07:25I think that would be the message.
07:26I think, obviously, we know going over to Germany and second leg is always the challenge,
07:33being away from home, but I think we would want to.
07:37I think that's our mindset.
07:39We're going into the game, looking to win the game, to see if we can take an advantage across next week.
07:45Can I ask you about Harry Kane? How much do you rate him as a player?
07:47You've come up against him before. He's top level, obviously.
07:50Oh, he's absolutely brilliant.
07:54I've obviously known Harry for a long time and come across him many times.
08:02Harry's actually one of them ones that, until you've stood on the side of the pitch and you face him,
08:06you actually only really, really then see his level.
08:11I know as a young player, he came through the system at Tottenham.
08:18It wasn't easy for him at the beginning. He had lots of loans, getting out to clubs didn't quite work out,
08:25and then he was given the opportunity by Tim Sherwood at Tottenham.
08:31From that, Tim had belief in him, had worked with him as a young player,
08:36and then once you get into the team, his development has just increased from that.
08:44You look at him now, he's world-class player, goals,
08:50but he's changed his game a wee bit as well in the last numbers of years, where he's on the move more,
08:54dropping short, you see his passing, you see his abilities, but he's also tough.
09:01He's a tough boy as well, Harry.
09:03I can't speak highly enough of him.
09:06I think he was absolutely brilliant at Tottenham, showed the same for England,
09:10and gone out to Bayern.
09:13You just need to look at his goals record.
09:16A fantastic player and a good guy.
09:22When you're that familiar with somebody, Brendan, and Kasper's played against them a lot as well,
09:27does that help at all when you're up against these kind of elite players and trying to cope with them and contain them?
09:33I always think with top players, it is difficult.
09:37You look tactically to find ways, and that's the beauty of the game.
09:41You're trying to nullify their strengths.
09:45But I sometimes think with the very, very best players, you want to deny them space,
09:50but they'll always find space.
09:52And that's my experience of working at a level where those world-class players will find the space.
10:00I think he's one of those.
10:03But, of course, we have to look to nullify that threat,
10:08of which they have other quality players.
10:11And then, obviously, like I say, bring our game as well,
10:15which I've been really pleased with at this level.
10:17We've shown that we can hurt teams at this level.
10:23Brendan, just on the news that Dyson is available tomorrow.
10:25It's obviously great news for you.
10:26But how difficult a decision is it to decide if he plays, where to play him tomorrow,
10:31given how informed he's been in both those positions?
10:34It's been pretty straightforward, really.
10:37So just having him available was the most important thing.
10:40And the club released really robust financial accounts yesterday.
10:43How important is it to you that that money backs you on the pitch,
10:48now that you've had those results come out?
10:51Yes, I think the club have done that.
10:53I think the club have been very, very supportive of myself coming back.
10:59We see some of the signings we made in the summer.
11:01So they've been brilliant in that aspect.
11:05We as a club, we want to go forward.
11:08We all have ambitions to keep proving ourselves at this level.
11:13For that, you need to build and build and build.
11:18And also, you have to have half a mind on making sure that you're a sustainable club.
11:22So I think from the accounts aspect, it's obviously very, very healthy.
11:28Of course, as a manager, we want to put those funds
11:31and some of that funds into the team.
11:33But you've seen that the club have done that.
11:37So hopefully we can do that going forward.
11:41Is Carthar Vickers okay? Is he fit? Is he available?
11:45And could his experience, if he is, be crucial?
11:48Yes, I think he's fit and available.
11:52Yes, we gave a few of the boys a bit of rest at the weekend.
11:57But yes, he's fine.
12:00And like I said, he'll have played against Harry before in training and whatnot.
12:04So yes, he's okay.
12:08Hi Brendan. Against Aston Villa, Celtic were quite aggressive,
12:13pressing very high up the pitch.
12:15Feyenoord, however, when they were playing Bayern Munich,
12:17they tended to sit back and restrict Bayern
12:20some space across the centre of the field.
12:22What consideration have you made when deciding how to set up against an organised press,
12:27against such a quality opposition?
12:32Yes, a mixture really.
12:34I think if you see the Feyenoord game,
12:37at times from a static position, they're looking to press.
12:40Once the press is broken, then you're recovering behind the ball.
12:47So I think a game, absolutely, when you're playing the really, really top teams,
12:51you have to pivot in those strategies in terms of...
12:55there has to be moments when you compress the game.
12:59And sometimes that's, a lot of the time, it's from that static goal kick position.
13:03When you're there, the minute that gets broken,
13:07then you've got to recover and deny space.
13:10So I would think you'll probably see a wee bit of both.
13:13I think that's the balance we need in the game.
13:15And then when we play and we take the ball,
13:18we have to then play with our authority in the game,
13:21which is important.
13:22When you're approaching these games,
13:24do you look at it from a, how can you exploit their weakness?
13:27Or how do you find ways to accentuate our qualities?
13:33It's exactly the same in every single game,
13:36whether that's Raith or Bayern Munich or whatever.
13:39You always have to respect the opposition and what their strengths are.
13:44So how can you curtail those?
13:47But then, really then, we want to always play like a big team
13:53and we want to impose our way in the game.
13:56So, of course, that is very, very important for us.
14:00But it's like in football, it's balance.
14:03I always think you defend well, you'll pass well.
14:07And thankfully, these players are being so, so good in that aspect
14:12from a defensive perspective.
14:14And that has given us the platform to play some great football
14:17in all the competitions.
14:19So, yes, it'll be the balance of the game between pressing
14:24and then bringing our creativity to the game.
14:27And that's our game identity.
14:28It's very much about the connection in the team,
14:33with and without the ball, being creative, breaking lines, hard running.
14:38All these things are all a part of our game.
14:41Hi Brendan.
14:42Hi Brendan.
14:44A few of the players, Brendan Barr, mentioned the Leipzig game
14:47as being a kind of benchmark for yourselves in this competition.
14:50What pleased you most about the team performance on that night?
14:53And do you think you may have to better that again?
14:57We'll certainly have to be at the same level of that.
14:59I think that when I look at everything,
15:03we played the game technically and tactically at a really high level.
15:09From the sort of mindset, we were also really good in the game.
15:14So having started well and then actually gone behind in the game,
15:17how we responded, I was impressed by that.
15:21And then, like I say, the big steps that we've made this season
15:25has been in the physical demands of the game,
15:30because at this level, that is absolutely critical.
15:35That pleased me because the pressing that we did,
15:39if you think of the second goal,
15:40it's one of the best goals that we've scored since we've been here.
15:42Why? Because it shows a mentality,
15:45it shows a real project and a real positivity to step inside the pressure
15:50and win the ball.
15:54So, yes, that side of the game was really good.
15:57And yes, we will have to get to those levels again.
16:01Hi Brendan.
16:01You mentioned earlier the home form.
16:04That's six unbeaten now at Celtic Park.
16:07It's becoming a difficult place for opponents to go again.
16:10How important a factor will the home fans play tomorrow
16:13in terms of being patient and understanding the game?
16:15It's obviously against a top-quality opposition who have a lot of the ball.
16:19Do you think the fans have a major factor to play in that?
16:23Yes, and I think they have done.
16:25I have to say, I go back to the young boys' game here,
16:28and I know I spoke about that leading into the game.
16:33And I thought when it could have got a little bit nervy in the last 15 minutes,
16:37the supporters were amazing.
16:39They sensed it and they really got behind the team and lifted the team.
16:43So that side is very important.
16:46I feel it's great.
16:49It's where I wanted to take the club back to, where we come here.
16:54It's not just a tick-box exercise for players to come and say they've played at Celtic Park.
16:58You want them to hurt in this arena as well,
17:01and you want them to find the challenges of that combination
17:06between the supporters and the players on the pitch,
17:09making it a really, really, really difficult night.
17:12And we've started to do that.
17:14Obviously, this will be a massive test of that,
17:16but that's what we sign up for.
17:21Brendan, it's been seven and a half years since we last played Bayern here.
17:25What has your evolution as a coach been like managing the Champions League since then?
17:29It's just experiences.
17:31I think that I remember back in that game,
17:35I thought we played well in the game.
17:37We actually went behind and then we played well,
17:41and then we got back into the game at one each.
17:45Then sadly, we didn't keep the game long enough at that scoreline,
17:50and very quickly, I think it was Kingsley Conlon who then ran through and scored the second one.
17:56But it was a competitive game,
17:58and I think that's been the joy for me,
18:03to have seen us develop and progress at that level,
18:07where we are competitive.
18:08So, I'd expect it to be that tomorrow.
18:10In terms of my own experiences,
18:12it's just the games,
18:15the level is a high level,
18:19and you're obviously sometimes bringing Celtic into playing against
18:26some of these great teams,
18:27which is a great privilege for me.
18:29But as I've always said,
18:30we want to also be competitive at this level,
18:33and I think we've shown that.
18:35Now, can we go forward and sustain that over the coming years?
18:40You've spoken about, specifically,
18:41Jota and how he needs to physically get up to speed more often.
18:46Do you think that he can start the game tomorrow and make a huge impact,
18:51despite only playing 29 games since departing Celtic?
18:55OK, you've got your pen and a bit of paper.
18:57I'll tell you the whole team.
19:00He's definitely in the squad,
19:03and I think he will do.
19:04I think he'll get to the...
19:05I've got to say, I've been so impressed with him close-up.
19:08I'd obviously watched him from the outside,
19:11I'd heard some of the players talk about him,
19:15but seeing him come in and then seeing him on the pitch,
19:19he's just got star quality written all over him.
19:22He needs to get to a physical level,
19:26but that's just time and a bit of support around that,
19:29because he hasn't played a great deal.
19:32But there's absolutely no doubt of his quality,
19:36apart from his first touch the other day.
19:40Just with my aid, again,
19:42were you surprised they won the appeal with me?
19:44You obviously played quite a few minutes at the weekend there.
19:46Were you surprised when you got the news last night?
19:49No, I ran their legs off them for three games!
19:53To be fair, the appeal was brilliant by the club,
19:57I've got to say, because he was always going to serve one game,
20:00and then we didn't get the actual...
20:02until you then get the written report,
20:05which didn't come through to Thursday, Friday last week,
20:07then you can't then put in your appeal.
20:11But as soon as it did come in,
20:14obviously the club put in the appeal,
20:18which, with the greatest respect you're away from,
20:21we were thinking that this probably wouldn't bear fruit.
20:25And then when I got the call to say he was able to play,
20:30I thought, goodness me, he's played the three full games!
20:35He couldn't run any more as a striker, as a winger,
20:37played him everywhere.
20:39But thankfully, he's just a bundle of energy,
20:43so he'll be OK.
20:46Sorry, just answering your question,
20:49it was a wee bit of a surprise when it came through,
20:52but it wasn't unsurprising because of getting the two games...
20:58What was that word?
21:00Assault, aye?
21:01It wasn't an assault, that was in the report.
21:06So, I think on that basis alone,
21:08the club were great,
21:10they appealed it and thankfully we won.
21:13Just on Harry, do you remember the first time you saw him as a young player?
21:16And or the first time you thought,
21:18well, hang on, this guy's different?
21:22No, I remember him as a youth player and then going out on loan when he was young.
21:30I'd seen him at Spells, I think he was at Millwall,
21:32he was actually at Leicester as well for a bit.
21:36I'd seen him play at Norwich.
21:40And was there fuss about him then?
21:42No, no, no, Harry will tell you himself.
21:46He wasn't what I would say the gold medalist.
21:54And that's normally the players that do come through anyway,
21:56those silver medalist players,
21:57the guys that are having to strive and fight for their careers.
22:02And that was Harry and he would tell you himself.
22:06But then he found someone who really appreciated him
22:11and backed him in, Tim.
22:13And Tim was working in the youths at that time.
22:16And when Harry, I think, had the chance to go out on loan again,
22:19he didn't want to go.
22:21And Tim put him in the team and then from that,
22:23he's never really looked back.
22:24And then it's all about your attitude,
22:27your professionalism,
22:29your desire to be the best player you can be.
22:31And you see all of that and you see how he's developed,
22:33how he's matured,
22:34he's trained and everything.
22:35And I've obviously spoken with boys that work with him,
22:39with England as well.
22:41And yes, they speak so highly of him.
22:44So, a world-class player.
22:47And yes, he's doing a brilliant job for his team now.
22:53Just touching on what you're saying about running the legs off,
22:56our pundits on SportsZone and the sports team are saying he never looks tired.
23:01Is he one of the fittest players you've ever managed in terms of his running ability, his athleticism?
23:09Yes, he'd be fine for the game,
23:10don't get me wrong, he'd be absolutely fine.
23:13He's a little bit out before those games as well.
23:17So, he's got lots of miles on the clock,
23:21but I think to have that...
23:25Listen, if you go into the Premier League down in England,
23:28the running capacity and physicality that you need for that league,
23:33there's players there that have that,
23:35of course.
23:37But he does all the things that,
23:43in terms of what you don't need talent for,
23:46he does them to the highest level.
23:48All the running, the pressing and the will,
23:52his will to run and run and run is absolutely incredible.
23:57And I haven't worked with too many like that.
24:00The ones that can do it in bursts, of course,
24:03but for someone, the desire to want to run is absolutely at the highest level.
24:10So, we're very lucky to have him here.
24:12He's come in and he's done brilliant to bring him in,
24:16put him in the team and he just keeps continuing to grow and develop.
24:21And now you see his composure when he's in front of the goal,
24:25scoring goals, all types of goals.
24:28And, yes, just very, very pleased that he's with us.
24:34OK, any more? All done? Thank you. Cheers.
24:36Thanks, guys.
24:58Awesome. How much are the boys looking forward to tomorrow night?
25:11Yeah, I think we're all really excited.
25:12You know, it's a great opportunity for one of the club,
25:14but also us individually and us as a collective,
25:18you know, take advantage and play our game.
25:19Talk to us about the mentality of the team going into the game against one of the European powerhouses Bayern Munich.
25:26Just the same mentality we've had.
25:27And I think it's just a Celtic way in how we approach things.
25:30And, you know, when I first walked into the doors, you immediately feel the,
25:33you know, just how guys approach it and how the organisation approaches,
25:36you know, the game and everything in between.
25:40But mentality is not changing. We're just playing our game.
25:43I remember speaking to you after the game in Villa Park,
25:46and it was either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid,
25:47and you said you weren't too concerned about who it was going to be
25:49because you and the boys believe you can take anyone on on your day.
25:53That's what you're expecting tomorrow night.
25:55You do believe that you can go out there and beat Bayern Munich?
25:58A hundred percent. I back us team with everything.
26:02I think when we are on it and when we play our game
26:05and we have the right mindset and we play as a collective,
26:09I truly back us against anybody. So it's really up to us.
26:12How exciting is the prospect of coming up against Harry Kane, a player of his quality?
26:17Good. You know, I've played against many players of, you know,
26:19who are world class and who are great players as well,
26:21you know, but as a defender, you kind of look forward to those games
26:24and, you know, you want to test yourself and, you know,
26:27he's backed by a lot of people and he's shown a lot of people
26:29he can do amazing things. But as a defender,
26:32you know, you want to show that you can stop that and do your best.
26:35What have your friends and family been saying ahead of this?
26:37Have you had many requests for tickets, things like that?
26:40Yeah, for tickets, but everyone's back in the States.
26:42It's a little hard to get here from there,
26:44but the ones, my friends here, they're all trying to come.
26:49Awesome. For you personally,
26:51how highly does this game rate and rank in your career so far?
26:56Bayern Munich in the knockout stages of the Champions League?
26:59Yeah, it's definitely up there, you know,
27:01I think as a little kid growing up in Media, Pennsylvania,
27:05to hear you say that, you know, I would just be, I would think you're,
27:08you know, you're lying. So for me to be in this, in, you know,
27:13had this opportunity to be here playing for Celtic and to be,
27:16you know, playing Bayern Munich at Celtic Park tomorrow with the fans
27:19and the amazing environment and all that.
27:20It's what dreams are made of and what I, you know,
27:22could have only dreamt of it as a little kid, you know,
27:24in my bed when I was sleeping.
27:26And do you buy into what the manager is saying about the progress
27:29that you've made, you personally, but also the team at this,
27:32at this level, at the European level?
27:34Sorry, can you repeat that?
27:36Talk to me about the progress that you personally have made
27:39and also the team in terms of playing in Europe,
27:41the managers saying how happy he is with the development
27:45and the progress for you as a player. What does that, what does that mean?
27:49Yeah, I think it's just backing ourselves.
27:51You know, I think when, when you, when you play certain teams,
27:55but when you're in this competition, it's the best,
27:57best club competition in the entire world.
27:59So when you're given opportunities to play against the best players
28:01in the entire world and you can back yourself,
28:03you can show yourself and show it to your team.
28:05And as a team, you can show it to yourselves that we can play here.
28:08We're just as good and we can, you know, we can thrive
28:10and we can win games. So I think as a team,
28:13an inability, it just makes you back yourself more because,
28:15you know, more belief, you've shown it to yourself.
28:18Can I ask you about one of your own teammates,
28:20Dyzen Maid is available to play.
28:22What's he like to play against in training?
28:25And have you ever played against anyone as fast or as fit or whatever?
28:29It seems like he's all over the place.
28:31Yeah, Dyzen's amazing. He's, he's, he's really, really good.
28:34And I'm happy he's on my, he's on my side.
28:36And I'm happy to play with him.
28:39I think we have a lot of guys and in training,
28:41we don't really, we haven't, we train a good bit,
28:43but a lot of it's recovery and, you know,
28:45so you don't really get the chances to, you know, go one-on-one.
28:47And, you know, a lot of guys working on the individual skills,
28:49but yeah, Dyzen, Dyzen's amazing.
28:53You've talked about that belief there.
28:54The manager just there talked about how much you're all excited for the tie.
28:58How key is it that you go into this game with no fear?
29:01And it is a positive mindset. It is excitement.
29:03It is, let's test ourselves against the best.
29:06Yeah, you know, we're at home and, you know,
29:08I think we've shown to each other and to hopefully you guys as well,
29:11that we back ourselves and when we can go out there and actually get a result.
29:15So I think playing with, there's no reason to play with fear.
29:18We have nothing to lose. The only thing is to gain.
29:20And we, if we got there and do our thing,
29:23I think we truly believe that we can get a result that we favour,
29:26that's in our favour. So.
29:28And I want to ask about Champions League nights at Celtic Park so far.
29:31How has your experience of those been?
29:33And I guess this one's probably going to take up a notch as well tomorrow night.
29:37Yeah, I can assume tomorrow is going to be just even crazier than what it has been.
29:41But, yeah, it's honestly just a dream come true.
29:44You hear the story, I mean, growing up in the States,
29:46you hear the stories about Celtic Park and, you know,
29:48but you don't really understand until you're here.
29:50So when I'm out on the pitch and you just hear the theme song play
29:54and then everyone's just screaming, it's just, it's just amazing.
29:57You know, it really gets you riled up for the game
29:59and you just want to give it your all for everybody.
30:01So the fans do play a huge part and it's nice that they're behind us
30:06and we're having it at the stadium.
30:08Austin, this will be your ninth Champions League match for Celtic since arriving this summer.
30:12How much have you enjoyed building up that kind of formidable partnership
30:15with Cameron Carter-Vickers at the back?
30:17Yeah, it's been, it's been great.
30:19You know, Cam and also everyone, everyone on the team.
30:22You know, I'm new here. I'm the new guy on the pitch with them.
30:25So everyone here is welcoming me with open arms
30:27and every game I've gotten with them, every minute I can.
30:30Our chemistry is just building and building.
30:32So to play with Cam, play with everyone in the back line
30:35and the guys in front of me, it's just been really, really good.
30:38Austin, how much work has went in behind the scenes
30:42for tactical flexibility in these games?
30:46Whether you're pressing really high up the pitch or sitting out a bit more compact,
30:50how much work goes into being flexible so we can do different formations
30:55and tactics and try and get a win here?
30:59I'm sure a lot. I mean, that's behind the scenes.
31:01That's more the gaffer and his staff really putting us in the best position
31:05as possible to, you know, have success in this game.
31:07So I'm not really in tune with that.
31:09I have my instructions and how we want to play the game,
31:12which I'm not going to give away.
31:14But yeah, they're world-class, the coaching staff
31:17and everyone he has working for him, for the gaffer.
31:20They're really good. So we're well prepared.
31:22Is that one-to-one on the types of formation they play
31:26or the specific players they get a little bit of work with?
31:30You specifically and the defenders with some of the analysts behind the scenes?
31:35Yeah, any resource we need, any information we need
31:39is given to us and anything more in excess that we require,
31:44they're there for us, anything we need.
31:46So one-on-one as a group, collectively as a backline or midfield
31:50or the forwards, we got it all.
31:53Hi, Austin. It's been a bit of a rollercoaster of a Champions League campaign
31:56from the lows of Dortmund to then the highs of Leipzig.
31:59Have you got a particular individual or highlight
32:02that stands out for you in terms of the campaign so far?
32:09I'm not sure. You mentioned the lows and the highs.
32:12I think in order for us to have the highs, we needed the low.
32:16I obviously don't want the Dortmund loss like that.
32:18But that was one of my first games here.
32:22So me walking into this new environment
32:25to see a low like that and see how the guys react,
32:28I'm looking at it and I'm like, OK, what kind of environment am I in?
32:33But to see the guys just grind even more and grind for the results
32:39and really show that we have a backbone to the team, it means a lot.
32:43To walk into an environment like that, that's what you want to play for.
32:48Austin, what has it been like for yourself
32:51to go from domestic action to European performances?
32:55Because so often it's that transition very quickly
32:58into a European match, back to a domestic match.
33:01How has that been for yourself personally?
33:03It's been good. I think from the whole organisation,
33:06they don't let you slip up. They don't let you change your mindset.
33:10It's very easy to – you're playing Bayern Munich
33:13and then all of a sudden you're playing another team.
33:16So it's very easy to switch off, but the coaching staff and players,
33:21they don't let you slip up and your mindset shifts.
33:24So it's really just approaching every game in the Celtic way,
33:27and the Celtic way is to approach every game with 100% and give your all.
33:33Congratulations to your Philadelphia Eagles and winning the Super Bowl.
33:37What was your experience for watching that
33:39and how would you compare the Philly fans to the Celtic fans?
33:42That's a good question.
33:47Yeah, no, the Eagles winning, that's amazing.
33:50I tried staying up, but it was so late I was falling asleep.
33:53But woke up and I knew when I turned my phone on,
33:57my phone was blowing up.
33:59So to see that they won in the fashion that they won, it's amazing.
34:03Yeah, the celebrations I saw on Instagram,
34:06everyone just going absolutely crazy.
34:08They went crazy the time before, but they're greasing the poles beforehand
34:11knowing they're going to try to climb them.
34:13But yeah, overall it's amazing.
34:15I think the Celtic fans are wild and they're really loyal.
34:21I think Philly fans can be really similar to that as well.
34:26There's good and there's bad, but there's also, at the end of the day,
34:30we're all in it together and everyone has each other's backs.
34:33I think playing in both green colors works as well.
34:37So yeah, Philadelphia, it reminds me of Philadelphia a lot,
34:42so it does feel like home.
34:46Okay, can I have yous all over there and can I have the dailies in?
34:51Cameron, as we're finished now, thank you.