Kasper Schmeichel has revealed the most important lesson he has learned from Brendan Rodgers over the years.
The veteran goalkeeper was his top choice during his time at Leicester City and when Joe Hart announced he was bringing the curtain down on his career last summer, the Hoops gaffer made the move to rekindle his relationship with the Denmark goalie north of the border. He has provided a solid base for the Scottish champions and a wealth of experience since coming in the door. He’s helped his new side to the Premiership summit – joint on points with Aberdeen and six ahead of Rangers in the standings while they’ve got a League Cup semi-final on the horizon plus Atalanta in their latest Champions League outing.
The 37-year-old confessed Rodgers has had a huge influence on his career and his best football has come under his current boss. His way of simplifying the game and his man-manager skills both are top of the charts for the stopper – who admitted it took a conversation of around five or ten minutes to get his signature on paper at the start of the campain.
Speaking to TNT Sports, he said: “He’s had a massive influence. When I look back at my previous years or times with Brendan, it’s probably the best football I’ve played has been under Brendan.
“He has a way of making you understand the game, a way of thinking about the game, simplifying the game, that makes you really appreciate how enjoyable football can be. His style of management suits me very well, he’s a very good man-manager.
“Tactically, he knows exactly what he wants, he’s very clear in his message and for me I think that’s the most important thing through the years that I’ve learnt: when a manager can give you clarity that’s massive because it’s such a help to players when you have a clear message.”
On the decision to join Celtic in the summer, he added: “It was a very brief conversation because as soon as I spoke to Brendan and having worked with him at Leicester and knowing his style, knowing what he’s about, how he wants his teams to play, how he makes the club tick and how he wants things to be, it was quite easy. When a club the size of Celtic comes and wants you to play for them, the conversation can’t have been much more than five or ten minutes long.”