Brendan Rodgers is refusing to back down in his row with Celtic supporters and insisted he’s too old and too experienced to bite his tongue.
Rodgers sparked a huge reaction after Sunday’s 3-0 win over St Mirren when he rounded on supporters for failing to get behind his players when the scores were level – and then chanting the name of Kieran Tierney in the dying moments. His comments have generated a wide ranging response with some die hards even insisting the manager has over stepped the mark.
But, as he prepares to return to the stadium to face Dundee United on Wednesday night, the Celtic boss is refusing to take backwards a step, even though he knows he’s already on thin ice with some Parkhead punters who have never fully forgiven him for leaving for Leicester City first time around. Instead, he said at lunchtime today: “I’m experienced enough to say what I think and what I feel. But not in a derogatory way to anyone.
“I’d be the last person, coming back to here and everything I’ve put myself through to come back to here. I’m so happy I came back here. I love my life and I love my job here.
“But it’s also important to be able to say what I think. Sometimes you are paid not to say what you think. But there are moments when you have to. And I’m at the stage now in my career and my life where I don’t need to bite my tongue. I am not going to beat around the bush when I am talking about the bush!”
Asked if he’s in a no win situation when it comes to speaking up he went on: “Well you can’t because then you’ve got an ego or something like that. But listen, it’s the modern world so it’s OK.
“We just get on with winning football games. We win games, play well and that’s what’s important.”
And when it was put to him that his decision to speak up illustrates the importance of his point he answered: “I’ve mentioned sporadically over my time here just because I know what the power of this club is when everything’s together and that unity is there. And also, what it feels like for the players to be out there getting that amazing support.
“I can understand off the back of the Rangers game and not playing anywhere near what our level was. So I can understand a bit of fret and a bit of worry.
“But it’s something I think is very, very important. My priority with the players is the performance level and that comes from training and the games, creating that atmosphere which the players can thrive in.
“That’s what I’m here to do. To manage and be the best that I possibly can be for Celtic in my time here, however long that is. And, of course, I will stand up for that.
“And once my time is done I can step back, wait for the next manager to come in, support him and look forward to seeing 60 games of high intensity football for 95 minutes every week. And I will be really happy!”
Rodgers is now preparing for a visit from a high flying United side as he looks to close in on another league crown. He said: ““They’re very good and you can see that from where they sit in the league. They clearly are getting results and performances and doing very, very well.
“They made it very difficult for us up there in difficult conditions and we couldn’t make the breakthrough that day. But I would like to think this will be a totally different game.”
And he confirmed centre half Stephen Welsh is close to clinching a loan move to Belgium – with youngster Dane Murray being recalled from a short term deal at Queens Park to fill in as his replacement. He said: “There are a few little bits and pieces going on in the background with both ins and outs but nothing to declare as of yet.
“We’ve brought Dane back for that purpose. He’s a young player I really think highly of.
“We sent him to Queens Park where he’s trained every day and been really well coached at a fantastic club. The whole idea then was to bring him back.
“Stephen has been pretty much part of the fabric at this club for so many years – he’s one of the guys who helps create the culture. But there also comes a time when they need to look at their own career. So there’s a possibility that he’ll go out on loan. It’s not confirmed yet.
“But for him to go out and Dane to come back is quite an easy transition.”