Any Celtic supporter who has not yet forgiven Brendan Rodgers for suddenly leaving the club the first time will probably not grant him a forgiveness of any time.
When the final whistle sounded in Tannadice on Saturday, the North Irishman became the most decorated living manager of the club with 11 honors.
Four of them came since his return to Glasgow in controversial circumstances in 2023. Only Aberdeen can now prevent his team from claiming a sixth triple in nine years in Hampden next month, a spectacular race that he triggered in his first season.
If Rodgers picked up with gravity in the eyes of so many people when he left for Leicester by the darkness of the night at the beginning of 2019, then he would have barely done to have returned. Bhoy for work
Very aware of the nuclear repercussions which come in the manner of his defection, the next time will certainly be very different.
Already “ 200% ” engaged in the third and last year of his existing contract, his possible departure – whenever this can be – will be done in such a way that his integrity is beyond the reproach and that his inheritance is not soiled, according to his skipper.
Celtic captain Callum McGregor is convinced that Brendan Rodgers was the only man for work
McGregor says that Rodgers will be remembered as one of the best managers in the history of Celtic
“In the end, people will always respect what he has done,” said midfielder Callum McGregor. “Even the first time … I understand … people were not happy. But he has always established a new level for Celtic.
“He then returned and he raised the bar again from which we left.
“So, I think that in the end, when all the emotions broke out, people will think:” Wow, he was one of the best managers of all time who succeeded in Celtic “.
“When you do this level of work, I suppose in the long term that people will respect him and have a huge admiration for him.
The level of anger that the sudden departure of Rodgers six years ago invoked among some supporters actually testified to what he had achieved in two and a half seasons.
An invincible triple was supported by another clean scan, then a league cup … The domination of Celtic over the Scottish game seemed certain as long as he remained. So when he left, it hurt.
Although Neil Lennon and Angel Postcoglou brought in success, there were many fans who still could not face Rodgers back when the vacant post occurred again.
The identifier immediately as the best man available for work, McGregor did not absolutely need persuasion.
“No, not at all,” he said. “Because I knew how good he was manager and obviously (there was) my relationship with him too.
“I knew he was the right person for work. I think Celtic is a huge club that you need this level of personality.
“You must have something special about you if you are going to direct the club and manage the club the right way. If someone new arrives, then it’s a bit unknown.
“You know what you get with the gaffer. His success rate the first time was impeccable. So you knew that he was going to bring this back on his return. For me, there was never any doubt that it should have been him. And I’m just glad it was as it worked.
This certainty came from a first -hand appreciation of the standards that would be requested.
“The first time he entered, his professionalism and his relentless nature were the two biggest differences,” said McGregor.
“When you look at the Celtic and the Rangers, we probably have the two largest budgets in the league. So, overall, you have the best players. So, the demand is how to win every week? You must be the most suitable team. You must have the best mentality. And you continue until someone whistles at the end of the season, then you get your head and say: “Okay, well, where are we?”
“This is what he brought to the club. I remember that we had beaten Motherwell (in the final of the 2017 League Cup), then we played them again on Wednesday evening and shot the match. And we knew it at that time. We had just won the trophy. But it was like: “No, no, no, we don’t go out. I’m going to give you time to celebrate at the end of the season, you must also win this match”.
“It is this relentless nature, especially in Celtic, because work is to win. And he puts this message at home for the players. And then it generates culture for us as players to continue too.
McGregor directs the celebrations after the last triumph of the title of Celtic in Tannadice on Saturday
McGregor is not certain if he was one of the people that Rodgers was referring on Saturday when he talked about the few people who “understood”. But he is closer to him now than the first time following the success of Scott Brown as a captain.
“We trust each other more,” he offered. “Even the first time we were, we had a lot of confidence in each other. But I think it’s different when you have this kind of captain-manager relationship.
“I depend on him and he depends a lot on me too. So, I think it’s a different feeling when you gain something for your manager. I mean, I also had it with Angel.
Opportunities like the one waiting in Ibrox on Sunday is another reason. Although the last confrontation of the league with the Rangers is not relevant in terms of title, Celtic has the small question of consecutive defeats to be tackled.
Try to tell a winner born as McGregor that the game does not matter simply because there is no trophy on the line.
“This is the case, I think,” he said. “And it’s because of the story. This is what I come back to Celtic where you can be so dominant, you can be the best team, you can win all the trophies and if you lose a match, it’s a disaster.
“Now the story is that it has been a disaster. So we have to change that. And this is the pressure that we want to put ourselves on ourselves.
