Coaches Voice – Brendan Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers spoke about the challenges of the Celtic job and how he moved from Merseyside to Glasgow in a recent interview with Coaches Voice.

The Celtic boss discussed his reasons for opting to go to Celtic over more lucrative endeavours after being sacked by Liverpool in October 2015.

“I had plenty of people tell me not to do it.

“I had options to go to the Premier League. I had an option to go to China, to make an awful lot of money.

“But I was a Celtic supporter. I knew the size of the club, I knew the expectations. I knew the fanbase, I knew there was an opportunity to play Champions League football. Most of all, I knew there was an opportunity to win.

“I was very fortunate, really, because I knew Celtic was the place for me.”

Rodgers was cut loose by Liverpool’s American owners after a draw at Goodison Park in the Merseyside Derby; despite having led the Reds to their highest finish since Kenny Dalglish in the 1990 season.

“It wasn’t just about the next club, though, It was about the right club.

“What is vitally important in your next job, I believe, is that you win. And that you win in the best way you can.

“I saw that in Celtic. I saw the opportunity to win, but a chance to bring my ideas into another iconic club. There would still be big pressure: 60-odd thousand fans every other week, and a worldwide fanbase.”

“The club was in a winning cycle, I knew that. But my idea was to make them win better. To bring in an idea and a philosophy of football that excited the supporters, regenerated the club and its enthusiasm.”

In two seasons at Celtic, Brendan Rodgers has written his name in the Celtic history books. An invincible season, back-to-back Trebles as well as two Champions League qualifications, some might say he’d achieved all there is too; yet Rodgers aspires to be better and improve, a determination to progress Celtic further drives him on.

“Where can we go from that? In terms of achievement, it’s difficult. Domestically, we can’t improve on much – but we will do our very best to win every game and every competition. In Europe, we want to be more consistent, and of course become regulars in the Champions League.

“And I just want to embrace it all. To feel happiness at being at such an iconic club.

“There’s pressure there. It’s not going away. But you want the pressure. If you want to be successful, it’s always there.

“Your job is to redirect the flow.”

Rodgers looks to Rosenborg next week where Celtic continue their European adventure at home to the Norwegian champions in what will be a tough ask.

The full article is available below:

Green king

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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