Brendan Rodgers will be back at Celtic Park tomorrow night for his first match in charge since replacing Ange Postecoglou last month. The occasion is the James Forrest testimonial where Celtic take on Athletic Club from Bilbao, the de facto capital of Basque Country. The game is almost certainly going to be a 60,000 sell-out and it will be the first chance for the summer signings to experience the atmosphere at Paradise and for the supporters to see this exciting new team that Brendan Rodgers is creating.
The earlier reservations from some supporters, including of course the Green Brigade, at the return of our former manager, should now surely be put aside and everyone should be getting behind the manager and his players for the challenges ahead. And of course the man of the moment is James Forrest, a one club Celtic legend so it’s so fitting that it’s Athletic Club who are providing the opposition. Their brilliant tribute to Billy McNeill in 2019 should never be forgotten by Celtic supporters, such a wonderful football club very much in our own tradition. Let’s give them the warmest welcome possible, then hopefully beat them!
Brendan Rodgers is certainly looking forward to getting back in the dug-out at Celtic Park and going on to be even more successful this time as Celtic manager.
“I think I’ll enjoy it even more now that I’m back. The first time I was here, and I loved my time here, it was great. But having gone away for four-and-a-half years, I had a lot to think about before coming back.” Rodgers said, as reported by Scottish Sun.
“It wasn’t just about coming back to Celtic. There were lots of things, off the field and on the pitch. I said to myself that I was going to enjoy every single moment of being back here again, both in terms of life and football. And I intend to do that.
“Coming back has just felt like coming back to family again. It doesn’t feel like going to a football club, as such. I’m back here with people who understand.
“I also come back here — because I left, and because of the success I had the last time — with a greater pressure and a greater expectation. But that’s one of the reasons I did come back, to take that on.
“Like I’ve said previously, there was absolutely nothing nostalgic about me returning. It was about coming here to win, and to win in a way which I want to play the game,” Brendan said.
“There is probably a greater appreciation, that’s for sure. In terms of football, and having gone away for four-and-a-half years, and worked in the most competitive league in the world, the Premier League, with top players and top managers, you will only develop and learn from that.
“I’ve come back with more experience and more games under my belt. But equally, I have come back with more hunger to succeed.”
Morning Gossip: I am convinced that Brendan has his plan & the next few weeks will see players coming in to achieve that "I said to myself that I was going to enjoy every single moment of being back here again, both in terms of life and in football and I intend to do that." HH pic.twitter.com/TBAQ0yzPJe
— Celtic Gossip (@CelticGossip) July 31, 2023
💚 Tomorrow night, we return to Paradise to celebrate #CelticFC Legend James Forrest!
Get your tickets here 🎟 https://t.co/yxtarvyEUT#CELATH | #COYBIG🍀 pic.twitter.com/qu9BH3ADLV
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) July 31, 2023
A few thoughts on a wonderful man.
What a huge loss DP will be. 💚 https://t.co/uVvNkcXLRn
— Matt Corr (@Boola_vogue) July 31, 2023
Lovely tribute to David by @joebloggscity 💚 https://t.co/j6PB275jF5
— Matt Corr (@Boola_vogue) July 31, 2023
brendan says blah blah and blah, who cares what pish he spouts