Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson has rubbished claims that Brendan Rodgers could leave Celtic for Everton. Sean Dyche is under pressure at Goodison and given the pending takeover for the Merseyside club, there has been intense speculation that the Everton job could be available shortly.
Despite being a former Liverpool manager, Celtic boss Rodgers has reportedly been named as a possible contender for the Everton job if Dyche leaves. However, speaking to Football Insider, Robinson has rubbished any notion that Rodgers would consider leaving Celtic.
“Brendan Rodgers is always going to be linked to jobs back in the Premier League.
“Because of what he’s done there before in the past and what he’s achieved with Celtic already you know in his second time.
“You look at the Everton job he’s linked already today with the Everton job he’s linked with other jobs when they come available.
“His next step at Celtic is qualifying for the next phase of the Champions League.
“The Dortmund game might just be a little bit of an eye-opener after the really good opening day win, but I think he will, yeah, I think that’s what he’ll be judged on.
“That’s progression, the games against Rangers, yes, you’re always going to be judged on those, but I think for actual progression they are going to judge them in the Champions League.”
Rodgers has been told that he will be judged by games against Rangers but also the Champions League fixtures. Robinson’s optic of Celtic is fairly simplistic but the overall theme appears to be that he doesn’t think that he will move for the Premier League at this stage. There has not been much linking him, except maybe the Football Insider article, but there have been strong murmurs that Everton could look at a new manager in the near future.
The defeat to Dortmund followed the opening day 5-1 win over Slovan Bratislava, which leaves Celtic in 20th place after two games. The Celts face Atalanta and RB Leipzig next before a better run of UCL fixtures, which will see Celtic play Club Brugge at Paradise and Dinamo Zagreb away.
There hasn’t been a great deal of speculation linking Rodgers with Everton and you cannot foresee a situation that the 51-year-old would walk out at Celtic for a Premier League job midseason again, especially for a former rival.
Rodgers returned to Celtic in the summer of 2023 after Ange Postecoglou left to Spurs. The Irishman won a Double in his first season back at the club as he was made to work hard to win the affection of the support. The final weeks of last season showed Rodgers’ mentality and the club managed to find an impressive run when it mattered. This season, Celtic have been relentless, showing the type of team that Rodgers wants.