Brendan Rodgers has accused a section Celtic fans of disrespect after chanting for former hero Kieran Tierney.
The Hoops boss was left fuming at the shouts late on in the 3-0 win against St Mirren amid talk the 27-year-old is on the verge of a stunning return to Parkhead. Celts bounced back from their Old Firm defeat with a routine victory but raging Rodgers let rip at punters over KT – and also the groans when his side passed the ball backwards when the score was 0-0.
The Irishman refused to discuss the prospect of a reunion with Tierney and he insisted the crowd calls were a slight on current left back Greg Taylor. Rodgers said: “There was a few things that I may have overheard at the end there. That’s a total lack of respect. Of course there is. Greg Taylor, he’s been absolutely amazing at this club. How does he feel?
“He nearly breaks his nose, bleeding for the club, for a cause. It’s not very respectful. You sing for another player, no matter what Kieran’s history is. I don’t like that. There’s lots of speculation, lots of names, but I wouldn’t add anything to it.”
Rodgers remained tight-lipped on Tierney – but he wants to keep Taylor, with the defender’s contract up at the end of the season. He said: “Hopefully. It’s been an ongoing issue, so I’m not exactly sure where it’s at at the moment. But what I know is that a young player who’s given so much to this club over a number of years, consistently. His ability, what he’s done for the club. So, that needs to be explored. He might decide to go elsewhere. But at this moment in time, he’s here, he’s very much a Celtic player, and we want to support that. Hopefully we can get to some agreement to let him stay.
“I can only vouch for where I’ve come in here. I’ve had a look at his numbers before, and then his performance level, consistency, availability. And then from my time here, he’s been absolutely great. I hear the stuff around, oh, maybe Champions League. But I’ve had hundreds of Celtic players that haven’t been good enough in the Champions League.
“What I know is this is a man who gives everything for this club. Hopefully we can keep him here because we’re trying to build a strong squad. I put myself in his shoes when he’s playing left-back in the game. Especially when you’re doing so much for the club and have given so much for the club.
“I’m not sure (If he heard the chants), I haven’t spoken to him, but I don’t think he can miss it. But what I know is every single day of his life it’s up to him.
“He’s there for the team, he stands up and be counted. The next mistake, he goes again. I get a greater appreciation even now, working with him closely. I’m really hopeful that we’ll keep him.”
Rodgers was happier with the immediate response to losing at Ibrox – with Celtic extending their lead at the top of the Premiership after Rangers stumbled at Hibs. Nicolas Kuhn notched a double and Auston Trusty grabbed his first goal for the club in a straight-forward afternoon.
Rodgers said: “I think that everyone who’s watched us over the last, in particular, 12 months would not have recognised us at Ibrox. Like I said, there’s some probably immeasurable reasons as to why, you know, so we got punished for that.
“So then the response today was really, really good against a team that we’ve seen all season that is well-coached, well-managed, and make it really, really difficult for teams.
“So for us to play in and have that level of comfort in the game, but not feeling the comfort we want to keep going forward, to get that was really pleasing. It’s a long journey, you’re never going to go straight up. You’re not going to get to the top with the old dickie bow on.
“You’ve got to dig in, you’ve got to find your way there, and sometimes that will be a challenge. But then it’s how you respond, and what I’m very proud of this team, and my time here, is the ability in which they do respond.”