Derek McInnes has insisted the departure of Brendan Rodgers for Leicester City and the English Premier League shouldn’t shock anyone, but he stopped short of claiming it would give his side renewed hope that Celtic’s march to the title might falter as a result.
The Aberdeen manager, himself courted by other clubs in recent times – spurning Rangers and Sunderland to remain at Pittodrie – believes the former Liverpool manager’s time in charge of Celtic raised the profile of Scottish football.
Yet, with his sights set on brushing aside Hamilton in the Granite City tonight and with an eye on achieving Scottish Cup success, continuing by eliminating Rangers from the William Hill Scottish Cup at home on Sunday, McInnes says his players will not lose focus.
READ MORE: Peter Lawwell: Brendan Rodgers' achievements are historic - but Celtic had to respect his wishes
“You are never totally surprised in football and I am certainly not surprised that Brendan has been courted by another team who are looking for a manager. Does it offer us a lift? No, we are just concentrating on our own team and trying to get the best out of ourselves, regardless of what other teams are doing. It doesn’t change anything from our own point of view.”
Rodgers’s appointment at Celtic, he added, was seen only as a positive because of his standing in the game and he had backed-up his own reputation and his capabilities with results and performances. He had made many of the players, who were already at the club, better because of his coaching talents. He and Celtic had been a good fit.
“Everything comes to an end at some point and Brendan has done very well. It is a new challenge for Celtic and for him,” said McInnes.
Meanwhile, left-back Max Lowe, on loan from Derby County, reckons the Leicester job will be right up Rodgers’s street with top players and a big budget at his disposal.
“In recent years they have probably been the biggest club in the Midlands,” he said. “I can see why he was looking at the job and considering going back to England.”
READ MORE: 'Celtic will always be my club’ - Brendan Rodgers says as he leaves for Leicester City
Aberdeen have failed to win their last four home games, drawing two, but given that Accies have lost every one of their last nine Pittodrie games and scored just one goal, it is clear which side will be favourites tonight, although McInnes has admired the chutzpah of Brian Rice, Hamilton’s new manager.
“I like the way Brian has come in and nothing has changed,” he said. “Normally when a manager goes into a relegation fight it is the usual mantra of being hard to beat and keeping clean sheets, but Brian has been quite refreshing because he has set-up his team to win and to be as positive as they can.”
Aberdeen have Scott McKenna back following a two-game suspension, while winger Gary Mackay-Steven, injured in the 2-0 win at St Johnstone at the weekend, is unlikely to make it.
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