LEIGH GRIFFITHS has explained about the high standards that former Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers had and how the only time he lost his temper was in an unlikely setting. Speaking to Si Ferry on the latest instalment of Open Goal, Griffiths revealed that Rodgers lost the rag after a win to Championship opposition.
Celtic played Partick Thistle at Firhill in the League Cup and despite a shaky performance had won 3-1. Griffiths has revealed that Rodgers didn’t take to the below par performance and lost it when the players got back in the dressing room.
“I only ever seen him get angry once and we’d won a game. We beat Partick Thistle 3-1 in the League Cup and he was fizzing when he came in, punched the tactics board.
“I’m like that, ‘I’ve never seen this before’. We’d been beaten by PSG, Bayern, Barca – battered by these teams – those would be lessons on what you need to be at the top level.
“Beating Partick Thistle you’re thinking, right, comfortable victory, easy. He came in off his nut. He was just angry with the way we played.”
Rodgers was a professional and demand top performances from his side, playing a certain style of football regardless of the opposition. However, another possible reason for Rodgers’ dismay may have been Celtic’s elimination from the Champions League at the hands of AEK Athens as well as an ongoing dispute with the Celtic board.
The Irishman left Celtic in February 2019 and whilst he achieved an enormous amount in his time at the club, his reputation was partially tarnished with some unlikely to forgive him for the way in which he left the club.
However, as yesterday marked the anniversary of our 8-in-a-row win, Rodgers leaving opened the door for Neil Lennon to return to the club and it is fair to say that he has had an enjoyable second spell at the club so far.
The full interview is available below.
