The Irishman has won four and drawn one of his first five games in charge of Al Qadsiah
18:45, 12 Jan 2026
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Brendan Rodgers insists football managers can only employ tactical set ups that suit the players at their disposal - just weeks after Wilfried Nancy's stubbornness in that regard partially cost him his job at Celtic.
Following his shock Parkhead exit at the end of October, Rodgers was appointed as the new head coach of Saudi Pro League side Al Qadsiah last month, and has collected 10 points from his first five games at the helm. The Irishman is renowned for utilising a 4-3-3 formation that is heavily centred around ball possession and attacking football, although he did switch to an unfamiliar 3-4-2-1 set-up in his final full season at Liverpool.
Upon taking up the reins at Celtic following Martin O'Neill's first spell as interim boss, Frenchman Nancy refused to alter his preferred approach of a 3-4-3 formation that he had success with in the MLS with Columbus Crew. It failed to work at Parkhead and went onto get the sack in Glasgow following a disastrous tenure that saw him lost six of his eight games in charge.
And Rodgers admits he has been forced to temporarily abandon his go-to set up until he has players who are able to carry out his demands.
Speaking to club media ahead of the league clash with Al-Fayha on Wednesday, he said: "I've mostly in my career have set up my teams to play really attacking in a 4-3-3 (formation). But of course, your tactics have to be based around the tactics you have.
"Currently, this group of players are more suited to playing 3-5-2. That's the strength of the players that we have.
"In my time here, I will arrive in a 4-3-3 but at this month, I don't really want to force it on the players when there is a different system and structure that can be very beneficial for us.
"I always say it's not so much about the system but the style. The style for my teams, whether they play in a 3-5-2, 4-3-3 or 3-4-3, that style is always offensive, aggressive and with discipline."
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