There are no easy games when you’re manager of Celtic and Brendan Rodgers is a man who knows more than most. During his first spell at the club from 2016-2019, he managed to bag seven trophies out of a possible seven throughout that time and was involved in some difficult games along the way. Cup games included.
Now the returning Celtic boss has the chance to lay down a marker and strike his first blow in the doemtic cup scene this year after drawing Kilmarnock in the League Cup. It’s a trip to Rugby Park this time for Brendan on his homecoming and it will no doubt be another difficult test to navigate for the Irishman and his squad.
Having come through a stern examination up at Pittodrie in Cinch Premiership action just last week, it’s now up to Rodgers to find a way to beat an old foe in Derek McInnes and thwart a Killie side that beat Celtic’s main rivals for the title this season on opening day at this very stadium. Of course, McInnes and Rodgers did battle on numerous occasions last time out when he was in Scottish football, with the Invincible Treble being completed against McInnes’ Dons’ side in May 2017.
The former Liverpool and Leicester City boss knows all about McInnes and his teams from the shared history together and reckons he’s in for a tough one tomorrow afternoon as per usual. Speaking to the media conference on Friday, Rodgers reflected on the difficulties both he and his side will face tomorrow afternoon in Ayrshire, Rodgers said: “It will be a tough game. I watched the game against Rangers and they did very well.
“Derek’s teams are always very well-organised and some of the most competitive in the country, and he’s a very experienced and impressive manager. I expect and anticipate a tough game and that’s what we’re preparing for. He did a fantastic job at Aberdeen, he got promoted with Kilmarnock and now wants to establish them in the division.
He added: “And after that first season he wants to put his stamp on it. We anticipate a tough game and the surface always plays a part but we can’t have any excuses. We’re in the competition to try and win it and to do that we have to beat good teams and come across difficult opponents.”
Rodgers and McInnes enjoyed a good relationship during his first stint even if Celtic would regularly come out on top against the Pittodrie side. McInnes will be hoping to get one over on Celtic, especially given their excellent start to the season.
