Celtic won the match after another debut Bhoy Kelechi Iheanacho scored a dramatic 96th minute penalty to give the Champions a 2-1 victory and the all-important three points, but it was the performance of Sebastian Tounekti that got the Celtic supporters really excited.
Today Gerry McCulloch from Celtic TV asked the manager what was it about Tounekti performance at Rugby Park that impressed him most.
“Just his confidence,” Brendan said. “I think that the structure of this team is to attack, that’s our idea to really get forward and create opportunities and to do that you need to get your gifted players on the ball and show that talent.
“I just felt that at times in the first half we were a little bit slow in getting it out to him and as we progressed through the pitch we then come back inside and try to come through where they were bodies.
“You could see early on when we got it wide in one-v-one he was really creative and we just encouraged that more for the second half.
“We like to attack on the sides and come through the middle and for Celtic wingers, you need players who can beat people and he showed everything. I thought that he was so good in the game considering where he was. The environment, first game, playing with that confidence.
“So he’ll be a really exciting player for Celtic supporters to look forward to because as I said he can take people on and he’s got a strong mentality.”
As a coach Brendan Rodgers is known as a very much for developing players and Gerry McCulloch asked in what areas the manager would be looking to work with Sebastian Tounekti that will help turn him into a top European winger.
“I just think it’s getting his numbers up and his goals,” Brendan replied. “You can see he’s got natural talent, he can beat people, inside and outside, he can combine.
“We’ll do some finishing exercises with him, both in crosses from the other side of the pitch, where he needs to be and focus on the areas he needs to arrive consistently in, and with that, that will bring him goals.
“But also in those moments when you need those individual bits of quality and when the moment arrives, then you’ve got to have your shooting boots on. So I really believe he’s got a strong mentality, a really good work ethic, wonderful ability and it’s our job – he’s at a great age – to try to really develop that.”
Sebastian Tounekti spoke to The Celtic Star and three other fan media outlets including ACSOM and Celts Are Here earlier in the week at Celtic Park, with Conor Spence asking the questions for The Celtic Star. Here’s everything that was said.