AS someone who was a fan of Celtic long before he became their manager, Brendan Rodgers knows all about, as the song says, the history.
So suggestions that he may grow restless due to the lack of a credible challenge to the Parkhead club’s domestic dominance - and there appears to be no prospect of one emerging any time in the near future - and decide to move on bemuse him.
Speculation that the Northern Irishman may seek to return down south or move on to a club in a major footballing nation further afield due to a frustration at the Scottish champions’ inability to compete with far wealthier rivals at the very top level in Europe is also without foundation.
The one-sided 2-0 triumph Celtic recorded against Motherwell in the Betfred Cup final at Hampden on Sunday certainly underlined just how dominant a force they have become in this country since Rodgers was appointed last summer.
They played four Ladbrokes Premiership teams in the competition – they beat Kilmarnock, Dundee, Hibernian en route to the final – but scored 15 goals and conceded just two in those fixtures.
With Aberdeen, runners-up in the top flight in each of the last three campaigns, not having beaten them in over a season now and Rangers, traditionally their main challengers, in increasing disarray both on and off the park despite finally returning to the top flight, it looks decidedly like their monopoly of Scottish silverware will continue.
However, Rodgers’ appreciation of what his predecessors achieved, his desire to build on to their accomplishments and the emotional attachment he has to the Glasgow club which he grew up supporting in Carnlough, will ensure his ambition stays undiminished and his professional contentment remains high for some time to come. He is going nowhere.
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“Like I have said to the players, Celtic is a really special football club and the time that we’re here is limited,” he said. “We have a responsibility to honour the great history of the club, what they’ve won before and then add to that while we’re here. I’ll always have a cause for which the players stay hungry to fight for.
“Whenever we move on and pass the ball to someone else we’ve left a legacy that will echo way beyond our time here. But to do that, the actions of today mean you have to win.
“These are the messages we give to the players to ensure that every game, every cup final, we fight for our life because when we’re long gone it’ll be spoken about. So create it while you’re here. There’s always a challenge at Celtic and there always will be, whoever is in charge here.”
Having worked at the highest level down in England before with Swansea City and Liverpool, Rodgers has seen at close quarters how rapidly a successful manager can fall out of favour and be discarded when his side’s form dips and results dries up.
He enjoys the chance to work with players - and Stuart Armstrong, James Forrest, Leigh Griffiths and Kieran Tierney, individuals who have all flourished since he took over, were all integral to the cup win at the weekend – on the training ground and is convinced further improvements can be made.
“I’m very happy in my professional life,” he said. “I’m developing players. I love that side of the game. I have a look at England now and I see how a manager can very quickly be out of his job and maybe not have the time to improve players.
“That’s my life, that’s what I’ve always done. I enjoy that side of it, but I also enjoy the pressure of managing a big club. It feels natural for me to do that and Celtic’s a huge club.
“I’ve got an energy, I’m still 44 so I’ve got a long way to go, but I don’t even think of that. I’m very happy to be here.”
Rodgers added: “I know the demands of Celtic, I know the pressures up here and my challenge is, like I said when I met with Dermot (major shareholder Desmond) and Peter (chief executive Lawwell), to dominate domestically and qualify for the Champions League.
“Now we’re qualifying for Champions League, we’re expected to take on these super clubs which is so, so tough. But I’ll always put myself out there to challenge that and that’s how I’ve always been. I’ve been optimistic for the club.
He continued: “There’s a real authenticness about being in Scotland. My attitude has always been to help the mentality of the Scottish players because there can be a wee bit of negativity - Hampden’s not very good and the players aren’t very good and everything But I don’t buy into that.
“I’m very optimistic in life, in terms of trying to help people and develop them. So far, in the early part of my time here, it’s working well. I’ve got a real burning hunger to keep pushing on and developing and not standing still.”
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