Simon Jordan has backed Brendan Rodgers to work his magic in the colours of Celtic again, but he feels the recently-sacked Leicester City manager still has a lot to prove after making the move back to Scotland.
When Ange Postecoglou’s eyes opened at the thought of managing in the Premier League and for Tottenham after delivering the Treble, not many expected Celtic to be putting out a statement on their official website a few weeks later and confirming the return of their previously trophy-dominating coach.
As expected, Brendan Rodgers’ return has sparked a reaction from the supporters because of how he left when the club was on the charge to win the ten, but for ex-Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan, he thinks the 50-year-old is back because he needs to ‘rebuild’ his career again, as he told talkSPORT.
Whilst Rodgers helped Leicester to Europe and won the FA Cup with the Midlands side, in the end, he played a major part in their relegation to the Championship, even though he wasn’t in the dugout when it was confirmed.
Has he enhanced his reputation since leaving Parkhead? Most would probably say ‘no’ simply because you are as good as your last job and with his last team now in England’s second tier, well, that says it all.
But that doesn’t mean he can’t relive those glory moments at Celtic again because, at the end of the day, he was the first manager since Martin O’Neill in 2000/01 to deliver the Treble.
“He deserves it,” responded Jordan on being scathing of Rodgers this season. “I think he should get all the plaudits for winning an FA Cup. I think he should get all the plaudits for the achievement that he has done with Celtic and the trophies that he won.
“Then I think they should have the flip side of it when they don’t do well. I think Leicester are sitting in the Championship because Brendan Rodgers didn’t fancy managing them when it got difficult.
“Going to Celtic, will he do a job? Of course, he will do a job because he’s good enough to do a job at Celtic, unless he has allowed himself to drift in such a situation where he can’t get himself out of second gear. I shouldn’t imagine so. It’s an interesting climb down and sideways move, or a backwards step, however you want to look at it.
“Celtic are a huge football club, no doubt about it. He didn’t go to Scotland, so he can end up back in Scotland. He went to Scotland to rebuild, after Liverpool, and give himself a chance to come back to the Premier League. He’s sliding backwards into the Scottish Leagues, and again, he needs to rebuild.”
First few months are crucial for Rodgers
The big difference with Rodgers now, in comparison to when he first took the job, is that he is now taking charge of a team that’s just won the Treble, and that in some style.
Added to that, a certain team from across the city are stronger than they were during his first stint as boss, so the task ahead for Rodgers is much tougher than before.
Given the noise around his appointment, if those first few months don’t start well, with the pressure of the first derby game of the new season coming early too, then those critics might just get louder and louder, so it’s paramount that Rodgers sets the ball running in a strong fashion from the get-go.
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