Willie Collum calls Dundee United but blanks Brendan Rodgers

Q: The confirmation that in the games between Celtic and Rangers for the rest of this season we’ll have away allocations, slightly bigger allocations as well than there was previously. Are you happy to see that back?

Brendan Rodgers:  “Yeah, I think everyone is. It’s a big part of the fixture. Having been involved in it with the supporters there, both home and away, and then obviously them being taken away, then it does make a difference. So yeah, I think it’s great for everyone. Great for the game, great for the spectacle of the game, and obviously ultimately for the supporters. They get the chance to see their team, which is great.”

Q: Is the hope that this is the start, essentially, that maybe it can go back to the levels it was previously? Or are you quite happy with the level it’s gone in at now in terms of numbers?

Brendan Rodgers:  “Well, we just have to get supporters back in the stadiums again. That was the start point, and then hopefully it can get somewhere near to where it was before, because that always creates an amazing atmosphere.”

Q: It’s something that you’ve spoken really passionately about before, making sure there are away fans in these fixtures. How pleased are you personally to get this done, and how much work did you do with the club behind the scenes to get this over the line?

Brendan Rodgers:  “No, no, no. Listen, this is all the club. The club have dealt with it really well. Like I’ve said, I’ve always said before, this wasn’t a Celtic thing. This was something that sadly was out of our control at the beginning of it all. But thankfully now, both clubs come together, and it’s been Michael Nicholson and the people behind the scenes who have dealt with it. It’s great for us involved in the game.”

The Brendan Rodgers Media Conference continues on the next page…