Buzzing Brendan Rodgers reveals Chelsea reaction to swashbuckling Celtic as mystery ex star raved ‘That’s a Brendan team’

Brendan Rodgers insists this has been his best pre-season EVER as a manager - and revealed how one of his former Chelsea stars could see his stamp all over Celtic during their pre-season pummelling.

The Premiership champions blew the Blues away in South Bend Indiana during their pre-season tour of the US, dishing out a 4-1 mauling to Enzo Maresca's men. That came off the back of a 4-0 win over DC United and 4-3 triumph against Premier League champs Man City to leave Rodgers purring ahead of their season opener against Kilmarnock on Sunday.

But it was the overheard assessment of one of his former Chelsea charges that told Rodgers his team are on the right track and producing exactly what he expects. The former Stamford Bridge youth coach took it as a major compliment and a sure sign that his team are hitting their stride at the right time.

"This is arguably one of the best pre-seasons I've ever had," said Rodgers. "It was interesting, because I had one young player at Chelsea, a former player of mine, he said after the game we played against them, he was talking on the bench and he said: 'That's a Brendan team we were playing.' So that's a good sign for me on a personal level, because he's played for me before and knows what I expect and demand, and he can see it in a different team."

And while a domestic Treble will once again be the target, a vast improvement in the Champions League is a priority for Rodgers. "We have to be better in Europe, as simple as that," he demanded. "We can't beat about the bush when we look at where we're at, we have to be better.

"But in order to be better, you need quality. If you're going to improve, we need to find that. It's absolutely as simple as that, so that's our drive and motivation.