Martin O’Neill put Brendan Rodgers on the spot over his decision to leave the club in early 2019…
Famously, Rodgers quit Celtic for English Premier League side Leicester City in February 2019 despite being on track to deliver a Treble Treble. However, four years on and the Irishman returned to Glasgow’s east end – thus far winning three domestic trophies from four and is on course to seal two consecutive league titles.
All Celtic eyes now on Allianz Arena
Still dreaming of Champions League glory, there is a semblance of hope for Rodgers’ men as the Hoops head for the Allianz Arena tomorrow evening for the second leg of their Champions League knockout playoff showdown against German giants Bayern Munich.
Despite trailing 2-1 in the tie, Daizen Maeda’s late header at Celtic Park last Wednesday gives Celtic a fighting chance ahead of their trip to Bavaria as the Scottish champions attempt to pull off one of their greatest ever European performances.
And now, speaking in an interview with Amazon Prime Video, three-time SPL winner Martin O’Neill has been discussing with the current boss about all things Celtic. The legendary ex-Hoops manager questioned Rodgers’ decision to leave Celtic in the first place.
‘How have you felt coming back here second time around?’
O’Neill said: “How have you felt coming back here second time around? Have you seen changes, I assume some of the people who were here before are still here.” Rodgers responded, “I’ve enjoyed every second of it. Clearly when I was here the first time, I had a great spell, and then probably more in my own mind it was football and I’d taken Celtic as far as I could.”
However, Martin O’Neill then interrupted Rodgers by saying, “you just wanted to leave young man. You just wanted to leave. That’s the point.” After a chuckle from Rodgers, the 51 year-old outlined he regretted the timing of his departure: “I felt that I’d taken the club from a football perspective as far as I could, so I felt with my football mind I moved on and went to Leicester. But I should’ve known better myself that it was only really when I left that I realised what me leaving meant. Not in an arrogant way, but in the way it hurt people.”
‘I should’ve known that being a Celtic supporter’
“I should’ve known that being a Celtic supporter. But I was more thinking football and the next football move. I was very conscious that I had hurt people when I left, so I wanted to make sure that when I came back, I recognised and realised it’s more than that as a Celtic manager.
“It’s people’s lives and the love and passion for Celtic is incredible. It didn’t sit well with me when I left and I certainly didn’t want that as my legacy,” Brendan Rodgers said.
O’Neill praised Rodgers for the way in which he has handled his return to Celtic – and ultimately won back supporters by delivering victories and trophies.
“Brendan leaving was a surprise to a lot of Celtic fans,” Martin O’Neill
“Brendan leaving was a surprise to a lot of Celtic fans,” O’Neill said. “He’d been very, very successful and the fans had taken him to their hearts. It almost seemed like an abrupt leaving. If he’d left at the end of the season with a few more trophies then I think everyone would’ve said well done Brendan.”
“Coming back was brave. But the most important thing when you come back, especially if you have doubters, is that you win football matches. And he’s done that.”
Conor Spence
B R came back knowing he was facing the wrath of a section of supporters.
A brave non financial beneficial decision.
Thankfully he did.
Long may he continue.
Hail Hail.