‘You can’t rule me out because I’ve never been asked – but I’m really happy here,’ Brendan

THEY asked Brendan Rodgers if he was ruling himself out of the Aston Villa job and he gave them a straight answer – “Yes”. That will do for the Celtic support but not it seems for the hacks, some of whom are at it this morning saying that Villa will today ask Celtic for permission to speak to Brendan, according to the 7.30am sports news bulletin on Radio Scotland.

Brendan gave his YES answer to the BBC. Later speaking to the press he added this.

“You get linked to a number of things. When clubs need a manager there is always a raft of names mentioned.

“It’s a huge club, it’s a Premier League club, great facilities.

“I said it before when young John McGinn was going. Brilliant support base, good history. But I’m sure they will know who they want to go in there.

“I’ve got a great job here, a very exciting challenge this season.

“You can’t rule me out because I’ve never been asked – but for me it’s one where I’m really happy here.”

So we know that Brendan is happy at Celtic, has ruled himself out if he was to be asked and that he hasn’t been asked. When he was asked if there had been an approach from China he confirmed that there had been, so we can assume that Villa have NOT approached Rodgers in any way. Good.

Brendan also spoke about yesterday’s star man James Forrest, who he reckoned he had a week to remember.

“James has had an eventful week, that’s for sure but it shows you his mentality.

“Something I’ve noticed in the last couple of years, that desire and will to want to score goals is important. His job is to create and score and he has done that exceptionally well today.

“There were a couple of nice combinations with Tom Rogic to get himself in and his finishing with both feet was outstanding. It was a very, very good individual performance by James.”