Brendan Rodgers has delivered a strong rebuttal to suggestions from Rangers manager Philippe Clement concerning the financial gap between his side and Celtic.
Factually, the Bhoys hold far greater reserves at this moment as they continue to go from strength to strength on the pitch.
Pitting the rivals against each other, Celtic had £77.2 million in the bank compared to Rangers’ £1.7 million, comparing both clubs’ most recent financial results.
Earlier in the week, Phillipe Clement said Celtic were ‘financially out of our league’ when previewing his side’s fixtures against the Bhoys and Tottenham Hotspur, stirring up controversy due to a lack of context behind his words.
Hitting back, Brendan Rodgers has put forward some valuable insight as to why the reigning Scottish Premiership champions retain a steady financial footing compared to their rivals.
Brendan Rodgers gives Phillipe Clement comments short shrift
Speaking ahead of Celtic’s clash with Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup final, Rodgers made it clear that Celtic have earned their financial position through fair sporting means and also made it clear that his sole focus is on events concerning his team.
He explained: “Phillipe will have whatever he feels he needs to look at within ourselves. I’m only interested in Celtic really, where Celtic have come over the numbers of years. This is a club that has been organically grown; we haven’t been handed money, and we haven’t got someone coming in from the Middle East and giving us a load of money. This is something that’s been grown.
“The leadership from the very top of this club to the bottom is why the success is that we’ve had. We’ve grown that, developed that, and that has allowed us then to win, and when you win, that brings more success.
“For us, that is all I’m interested in. The greater good of this team, the club are in a brilliant position. It’s all been earned; it’s not been handed to us. Everyone has the possibility, or certainly, teams up towards the top will have the possibility to earn the finances. If they don’t, then okay, we have to worry about ourselves, and that’s my only interest, really.”
Brendan Rodgers right to only be concerned with Celtic matters
Not to be pedantic, but why would Rodgers care about what others think of Celtic’s finances? Ultimately, he is a football manager, not an accountant.
His sole duty is to prepare his side for another exciting occasion that could result in silverware. Rangers will also be up for the tie, making Sunday’s meeting at Hampden a compelling contest.
Debates over financial realities are tedious. Celtic have earned every penny they have spent to put themselves in a promising position, there is nothing more to it.
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