HE looked a little more rattled than he usually does, he didn’t blame Peter Lawwell or suggest that he was told to leave as had been rumoured, he spoke very positively about Celtic as a club and he refused to condemn the Celtic supporters who he realises that he has hurt.
Brendan Rodgers spoke to the press for the first time today as Leicester City boss and Chris McLaughlin the BBC Scotland Football Correspondent and Homes Under the Hammer presenter Dion Dublin, both got to ask question.
Dublin, like Rodgers won his only honours in the game at Celtic.
The dreadful footage from the Edinburgh pub that shamed Celtic was of course mentioned as was the rather impressive banner from the Green Brigade at Tynecastle. Rodgers said he’s seen both and some other stuff, he’s well aware of the hurt that his decision – which he admits was selfish – has caused for Celtic supporters around the world.
“I have seen some of what has been said,” Rodgers said.
“Listen Celtic supporters will hurt. I understand how they feel – they are hurting and a bit worried about what will happen.
“Listen, words, you always have to be careful with words. I have seen the banner. The Celtic supporters are hurting. It is a worldwide fan base. They gave me everything.
“It was a shock, they are probably angry, but in time a reality will set in and hopefully the work we did will how we are judged.
“Leicester is a fantastic club with a real rich history of its own. Its recent history has been incredible as everyone has seen.
“But I know what we put in place will stabilise the club moving forward. John Kennedy understands the success we have had. He knows the fabric of the club and knows how I have worked and how we have brought.
“Scott Brown is the captain, an incredible leader with the team on and off the pitch. As hard as it was to make the decision, I knew the improvements we made would help them continue to enjoy success.
“It wasn’t easy at all. I have got family who are still deeply upset. But I have to remove that emotion in my career. I have to make the decision.
“My family and many friends have grown up Celtic supporters. There is real sadness because in my time at Celtic I have made a whole host of friends.
“They are incredible bunch and they will continue to have success. The supporters from the first day I walked into Celtic were incredible home and away.
“But I have to remove all that emotion. My journey is finished at Celtic and I have achieved all I can.
“It was a very, very difficult decision. If I was making this decision with my heart I would be at Celtic for life. It is an incredible club, one I have supporter all my life. It all happened very quickly. As a manager, you have to take the emotion out.
“After over three years at Celtic I felt it was the time to move onto my next challenge I have had opportunities to leave, but this was an opportunity I felt was too good to turn down.
“To come to a club with the ambition that Leicester have and a group of players who are young and hungry and need stabilising. I felt I could come in and help.”
Rodgers was then asked if he could have waited until the summer to leave Celtic, and claimed he had to go immediately if he wanted the job.
“No. It wouldn’t have waited until the summer. The club had to make a decision in terms of where they were at. The intention was to bring in someone permanent.
“I understand the timing issue. The ideal time would have been the summer, absolutely. We were very focused and playing very well.
“This was an opportunity that arose very quickly and I had a decision that I have to make very quickly. Removing emotion for that was key.
“This opportunity to come to Leicester wasn’t going to wait for me. I respect that people will hurt. Hopefully in time the measure of my time will be the success we had.”
Rodgers was actually asked if Leicester were a bigger club than Celtic!
“Celtic is one of the biggest clubs in world football,” he said.
“You can’t deny that. I know that and that is why I went there. It is the first British club to win the European Cup and they have 60,000 fans every week.
“It isn’t the case of whether it is a bigger club, it is the challenge, the challenge of working against top players and top coaches with a club with that ambition to move forward.”
