Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers gave an excellent first interview following his re-appointment to the Paradise hotseat. Earlier this week, it was confirmed that the 50-year-old would replace Ange Postecoglou as Celtic manager, returning to the club four years after leaving for Leicester City.
In the interview with Celtic TV, Rodgers was quick to dismiss the sentimentality of his return instead focusing on being successful once again for the club. The Irishman might have been tempted to reminisce about the seven trophies that he had won at the club, along with the 69-game unbeaten run and Invincible Treble; however, he made it clear that this was in the past and was looking forward to bringing new success to the club.
There was a key message throughout the interview and that was work. It is important for the club to continue the excellent work of Ange’s era and drive on to make strides in Europe. Rodgers promised attacking, aggressive football and it will be exciting for supporters to see the players at his disposal develop and grow.
“It will be the first job that I’ve come into where the team and club is on a high. When I’ve gone into previous roles, it’s been different situations. So I think Ange has done a fantastic job here over the last couple of years, culminating in finishing with the Treble. It’s a fantastic achievement.
‘What you have is a young hungry squad who, if they keep that mentality, then they can continue to achieve.’
“And I think Europe is always a big factor for this club. Can we develop the team to do something in Europe? Domestic football is always important, it’s the bread and butter, being dominant here in Scotland, but, of course, it’s transferring that into Europe and seeing if we can achieve something in there.”
Rodgers was full of praise for the club’s recruitment. Highlighting that the strategy and structure has changed, much to his delight, and that Rodgers is keen to work with Michael Nicolson and Mark Lawwell to continue to operate in marks aimed at bringing high calibre players to the club, where they can develop and improve the squad as a whole.
Rodgers will be assisted by Assistant Manager John Kennedy, Goalkeeping Coach Stevie Woods, whom he knows so well from his previous spell, as well as First Team Coaches Gavin Strachan and Harry Kewell. The Celtic manager was full of praise for his coaching team and is looking forward to working with them. Although, it is not clear whether there will be any additions to his backroom staff.
