Callum McGregor of Celtic celebrates scoring the opening goal with James Forrest during the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Semi Final match between St Johnstone and Celtic at Hampden Park on April 20, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Q: James Forrest, right on the cusp of becoming the most decorated player ever in Celtic’s history. That’s pretty incredible, isn’t it? What can you say about James?
Brendan Rodgers: “Probably not too much that hasn’t been said before, but a remarkable player. Obviously, you see all the clips of him as a young guy, coming on at 17 years of age. And now, you see him now, this experienced man amongst the group. Again, fortunate to have a player of that ability to work with. In 2016, there was doubt whether he was going to be here or not, but he stayed. He was brilliant for me in the first spell.
James Forrest and Callum McGregor early in their Celtic careers. Photo social media.
Come back in the second spell, there’s maybe other players ahead of him, but he eventually grew and developed and felt the confidence and was absolutely instrumental in us getting over the line last season. And likewise this season. His football brain is so good. He’s a fantastic player. I see it on the pitch every day. I think the other players, he’s a great reference just for sheer quality in the games. You know, some of the players that are new here. He’s such a big reference for the players.
James Forrest. St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park on Sunday 20 April 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
And to this day, he’s still one of the first ones in, eats well, rests well, sleeps well, doesn’t do silly things and is the ultimate professional. And a guy with such humility, he’d probably be embarrassed to be given the accolades, but he absolutely, thoroughly deserves them because he’s a winger. Any position to play that number of games and be in the position to win titles in any position is a challenge, but to be a winger at Celtic and stay the course, wow, some achievement.”
Q: Brendan, you said earlier, thanks to Dermot for bringing you back. When you are that close to winning another trophy, you see your club progressing in Europe, getting to knock out playoff stages in the Champions League. Does that kind of reinforce, in your own mind, you were right to come back?
Celtic Park welcomes Brendan Rodgers in May 2016. Photo Vagelis Georgariou
Brendan Rodgers: “I was right to come back. Whether I’d won nothing, it was really just about that point, having the energy and, obviously, the close proximity to me leaving, whether the feeling would have been too difficult for supporters to accept. In the main, most of the supporters have been really, really good. Of course, you can’t please everyone, but my focus then, as soon as I was to come back, it was to make the club as successful as we can be. And we’ve progressed and worked very, very well. And now we’re on the cusp of finishing the season as successful as you can be. I think once I had spoken to Dermot, of course, and the guys laid out the plans, and once I’d committed to it, then I was really motivated to come back and do the very best I could.”
Q: Callum had mentioned yesterday that the investment going in at Rangers and perhaps a stronger challenge from Ibrox next season would motivate you just as much to stay on top of the pile. Would you be extra motivated or welcome a stronger challenge?
Brendan Rodgers: “Listen, competition is always what drives you as an individual and as a team. Of course, you have your own motivations from within, but listen, every single team in this league motivates me to win. We’ve got some great coaches up here, some fantastic managers who are very passionate about their work and their job. So, any team provides the motivation and the drive for me to succeed here. And, yes, if there’s an investment going into Rangers, then great. That’ll be good for the supporters, good for the club. But my focus is very much on Celtic.”
Brendan Rodgers at the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Semi Final match between St Johnstone and Celtic at Hampden Park on April 20, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Q: I think you’ve only been at Tannadice once before. It’s a storied-old stadium. Is it a worthy place to win it if you do win it tomorrow against a good United side?
Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, it was a really difficult game when we were up there the last time. Both teams were in the midst of a really, really busy schedule. Of course, us with European football as well. It was a really windy day. We had players out and we just didn’t quite manage to get over the line. Dundee United defended so well, very strong, and we just couldn’t win. But, of course, there’s been a couple of great moments here in the club’s history of winning the title there with Ange and, obviously, with Gordon for Tommy and everything back then. So, it’s a real poignant place. And it’s one of the great stadiums up here in Scotland.
“Growing up, listening to it on the radio and being at Tannadice when Celtic played there and obviously seeing some of the games on telly. Their history itself is very rich when you look back to how well they were doing in the 80s and everything else. So, yes, I was so pleased because it was one of the few grounds I hadn’t been to in my time up here. I’ll be even happier tomorrow if we can get a win and finish off the job.”
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