Brendan Rodgers picks out two unexpected stars for Celtic praise

We end our tour in Japan with a victory. It's always nice to end on a positive note, but what did you make of that match? 

Yeah, exactly. It was a good game for us and I thought our levels never stepped up again. In the first half, we had some really, really good passages of play. Some really good moments and could have scored three or four goals at least. But their keeper made some great saves and we didn't have too many threats. Obviously, they scored, it was offside. Overall, really pleased with the second half. It was difficult for the team coming into the game because, obviously, they were working their way in. In the second half in the first 15 to 20 minutes, we were a little bit passive but once we got to the first sort of water break we reinforced the purpose of our game which is to really press and not wait for it. We were much more aggressive after that and we ended up getting the goal later on. So yeah, that was a really good exercise for us with some really good bits of play and even though it is pre-season, it's always nice to have that mentality, not to concede and each game we are progressing 

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Yeah, there is a lot of good stuff going forward, which must be really pleasing for you to see those patterns of play, but also defensively as well in the end as the players were really putting their bodies on the line, which must again be pleasing to see in a preseason match?

I said at the beginning of the season we'll play to hopefully a high level both technically and tactically. What you can never underestimate is what the heart gives you.  As a team and as an individual player, you need to have heart. That's something that I can't give them. It's something that the coaches can't give them, but it's something that they have to have within. I think we've seen that in the second half at times. There were balls coming into the box big (Liam) Scales and Bosun (Lawal) were great, heading it away and making blocks and defending. For some of those boys, that is maybe not their natural game, but you have to do it. So I was really pleased with that aspect of it where you have to defend. You'll go away from home and you'll be at home sometimes, but mostly away from home when you don't have it all your own way and you have to deal with it. I think they dealt with it really well. 

One signpost of that heart you were talking about is Alexandro, with his goal as he showed real endeavour to close the keeper down, which again for you must be really nice to see that?

Well, it's great that you can make a pass like that and it is so bad that it ended up in a goal. You have to give massive credit to him. He's played a great ball in of the games out in Portugal with the outside of his foot and we end up getting a goal from it. He tried a similar thing on the other side of the pitch tonight and he kicked the ground. He didn't over analyse it. You know, I always say you played the last pass and it wasn't so good, but he kicked on and he kept going and he pressed the keeper and then he got his reward for that. So yeah, it was a nice way and great for the supporters to obviously feel a goal in the stadium.

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This brings an end to the trip to Japan. Try and sum up what it's been like to bring the club over here and just to see some of the support and some of the new supporters that we have now?

Yeah, I think you know, 20-odd years ago, you'd never anticipate coming to Japan and seeing so many shirts. It's an amazing country with a huge population, but to see so many Celtic supporters out here it's been incredible. I know some have travelled from back home and got themselves here, but I think you also see the locals. Obviously, our Japanese players have created an interest in and in both games in and around Japan where we've been there are so many Celtic tops and that's what you want. You want to be able to take your club anywhere in the world as that's the type of club Celtic is. It's a wonderful institution and that fan base is only growing. It's been a great trip. We've got a couple more days to go. We still got hard work to do out here and then we'll get back and I think the cooler temperatures will help us as well. That will help speed up our run on intensity, but overall been a great trip

When we do get back to Glasgow shortly after that, we'll be heading to Dublin to Ireland to play Wolverhampton Wanderers, which again is another exciting test for the team. How much are you Looking forward to that?

Very much so. Having obviously worked against Wolves the last few years in the Premier League, I know how good their squad is and they've got a top-class manager. For us going back to Ireland is special. You know the roots of our club, so to be able to come to Japan and likewise to take the club to Ireland is really special and, obviously, to be in Dublin is great. So we'll get back safe and then get ourselves over there and it's a great game for us.