Celtic told Brendan Rodgers’ latest actions wouldn’t have happened 18 months ago in ‘fear’ of fans

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Brendan Rodgers’ return to Celtic is going rather well.

It has been 18 months since Rodgers donned the Celtic colours again, years after that infamous call to leave for Leicester City and anger the supporters.

Many were disappointed when Ange Postecoglou left for Tottenham given that he built such a great relationship with the supporters.

But the Premier League came calling and the outspoken Spurs manager has impressed many in England with how he has presented himself to the media.

Ange is no-nonsense and pretty blunt in his thoughts, as Celtic supporters know too well, and Rodgers has now gone down a similar route of late.

Brendan Rodgers wouldn’t have taken on Celtic fans 18 months ago

There is talk of Kieran Tierney returning to Celtic and it has got the supporters pretty excited because one of their own could be donning the colours again.

But, as Celtic fans chant Tierney’s name, the man in the dugout has seen it as a disrespect towards starting left-back Greg Taylor.

Michael Stewart told BBC Radio Scotland that Rodgers wouldn’t have made such comments ’18 months ago’ in ‘fear’ of upsetting certain sections of the fanbase.

Stewart added that the Irishman is now comfortable in the hot seat, so he can be as forthright as he wants.

“One thing it shows is that Brendan Rodgers is well and truly in control and comfortable in his position,” said Stewart.

“He wouldn’t have done that 18 months ago. That’s only natural. When he went back to Celtic, he was a little unsure of the reaction. He would never have come out with those comments for fear of agitating those who were perhaps unsure.

“Whereas now, because of all the good work he has done, and because he is well and truly back in control. He is feeling more emboldened to make a statement like that. It’s polarising. He has done it for that exact reason. Knowing that it’s going to stoke debate. There is a lot I agree with and some of it I don’t.”

What did Rodgers say about Greg Taylor?

It came after Celtic’s win over St Mirren and there were two bites the boss had at the supporters.

This was days after the Ibrox horror show, so fans were a little restless, especially when they felt that the team weren’t moving the ball quickly enough or playing it forward.

But that wasn’t the main talking point from all of this, Rodgers’ defence of Taylor was the one that got everyone on the edge of their seats.

“Total lack of respect, of course it is,” stated Rodgers. “Look at Greg Taylor. He has been absolutely amazing at this club. How does he feel? He’s playing, bleeding, breaks his nose bleeding for the club, for the cause.

“I’m more worried about the players that’s here. It’s not very respectful. You sing for another person, no matter what Kieran’s history is. I don’t like that. I hear the stuff around him in the Champions League.”