Callum McGregor, St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park on Sunday 20 April 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
Q: You spoke about a golden era. I know you put a statement out to the fans today, just ahead of the next season. It seems if you’re very motivated to take the team to the next level, not just be content with as is.
Brendan Rodgers: “Listen, my desire here to be at Celtic is very much professional. And emotional. My professional feeling is that I wanted to come back. I love the club. I missed the club. So I’m back and now I’ve enjoyed every second of it, apart from the beginning!
“But in the main, it’s gone really well. Clearly, my emotional attachment to the club is for the supporters, for family, for friends that are Celtic supporters, to do the very best for them and represent them the best I can. So, yes, I’m very happy here for the now to finish this season well. And we can go into the summer and really celebrate a fantastic season. And then really look forward to the challenges again going into my third season.
Callum McGregor. St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park on Sunday 20 April 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
“Your bread and butter is your domestic football. You’ve got to look after that. You could never think straight away to Europe. You have to look after yourself at home. And then from that, alongside that, we wanted to develop in Europe and we did that this year. So, can we keep that strong hold and get into European football and get into the Champions League?”
Q: Does that emotional attachment help you in some ways to never take it for granted? Because as a supporter, going back a few decades, Celtic weren’t always winning and you’ll remember those times.
Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, listen, you look back to the eras here, the 60s and 70s, Celtic winning so much. And then we have eras here where winning a trophy was a real challenge and really, really difficult. And then you look to the early 2000s, Martin coming in and then the growth then after that. And it’s just continued. But it’s a great testament to every manager that’s been here, every coach that’s walked, every player that’s played. But the emotional attachment allows me to understand the club and know that you cannot take it for granted. Every morning I drive up that hill there, I know I have to be the very best that I can be in order to justify my position here as the manager.”
St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park on Sunday 20 April 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
Q: I think a result tomorrow, Brendan will give you 11 major honours as Celtic manager, makes you the greatest living Celtic manager in terms of honours. Can you still feel that kind of hand of history on your shoulder?
Brendan Rodgers: “Not really. I’m a long, long way behind Big Jock and Willie, so I’ll never… No, I’m just privileged to be in my position, to have the opportunity. I think it’s one of the things that I’ll always be eternally grateful to Dermot, for bringing me back. Because without his support and his belief in me, I wouldn’t have this chance to have the opportunity to win the trophies. So, for that, I have so many people I need to make proud. And that’s always in my thinking, really, as opposed to the personal.
“The titles and the piece of metal or silver that we get, that’s not really… When I see that, I only see the hard work and all the ideas that we present every day and the values that we work to as a club. That’s what I see. And that’s my only intention, to keep on that road and keep on that path, to keep the success with the club. And hopefully then, when I leave, then I can look back and think, well, I’ve either done OK or not.”
