“We shouldn’t have been in the position we were in last week. That’s the reality. But that’s something for us after this transfer window.”

Rodgers signed goalkeepers Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo this summer, while striker Adam Idah and midfielder Paulo Bernardo have joined the club permanently after their loan spells last season.

However, he spoke in particular of the need for additional reinforcements for the left-back, central defence and attack positions, as well as two midfielders to compensate for the departure of O’Riley.

“As I said, we will get the players we want. We don’t need to put ourselves under unnecessary stress,” he said.

“That’s the reality. But that’s something for us after this transfer window. We want to develop, we want to improve. We can’t be satisfied if we only earn our money and fill our pot, because the decisive factor is the pitch.”

Rodgers believes the club owes it to its fans to build on its successes.

“The fans pay the money,” said the manager. “I look back at the Covid times here, the Celtic fans sold out the stadium and were not allowed in, so we have a duty to put the best team on the field.”

“We can make it to Friday, strengthen the squad, we’ll be in a really, really good position, but we want to get stronger and have that depth. It’s taken a lot longer than I would have liked as a football coach.”