Carl Starfelt has delivered his first impressions on new boss Brendan Rodgers as he admitted pre-season is like a love/hate relationship.
The Hoops are currently being put through their paces in a warm weather Portugal training camp as preparations for the new season move up a gear. Ange Postecoglou signed off for his crack at the English Premier League with Tottenham by winning a Treble and Rodgers and Co will be determined to retain their silverware with Michael Beale and his new-look Rangers side ready to do battle on the domestic front.
The Scottish Premiership kicks off on August 5 with Ross County visiting Parkhead. The Champions League doesn't come until September for Celtic due to their group stage direct entry with all focus on the early league games at this stage. A tour to Japan is on the horizon while the Scottish champions will also face Wolves in Dublin as part of preparations.
READ MORE: Conor Hazard 'special club' Plymouth praise as Celtic pals past and present send well wishes
Speaking about pre-season so far and working with Rodgers, Starfelt told Celtic TV: “This is where we lay the foundation and this where we need to set our play and also to get really fit.
'To be fair, it’s a love/hate relationship a little bit – you do what you love, which is play football, but obviously with the heat and the two sessions a day, it’s really hard.'
“It’s also really good to start working with the new manager. We’ve been training hard but that’s the part of the season where you really need to get fit and we also need to learn the manager’s way to play.
"But it’s been really good, everyone has been working really good and it’s nice to be back to a routine and to meet all the guys.
“I’ve only heard positive things about the manager and already before he came here, you have a very positive mindset about everything, and then meeting him, he’s a really good guy and a really good manager, which you can see from his record, so I’m very happy to work with him.”
