Charlie Mulgrew criticises Brendan Rodgers for lack of ‘love’ felt by Celtic players

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Brendan Rodgers’ final months at Celtic were dominated by off-field matters.

A build-up of tensions between Rodgers, the board and the supporters constituted an atmosphere described as ‘toxic’ by Dermot Desmond.

Results and performances on the pitch didn’t help. A disastrous defeat against Karait Almaty saw Celtic drop out of the Champions League, triggering a wave of Celtic fan protests.

Even games won by the Hoops against St Mirren, Kilmarnock and Motherwell were all hard work, with Celtic winning late on.

And with Martin O’Neill now in charge, Charlie Mulgrew thinks that the Hoops players are now feeling the love to regain their confidence.

Charlie Mulgrew on Brendan Rodgers and Martin O’Neill at Celtic

Targets such as Jakob Breum and Kasper Dolberg were publicly pursued in the summer, but to no avail.

Mulgrew accepts that the window wasn’t good enough, but still has questions for the impact of some of Rodgers’ comments this season.

READ MORE: Brendan Rodgers sent Callum Osmand message by James McFadden after dream Celtic

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Everyone knows about those Honda Civic comments and the fallout from them – and for Mulgrew, the players are looking more confident with Rodgers gone.

He said on the Go Radio Football Show: “I don’t think there’s any doubt that the transfer window could’ve been better, but we’re seeing now what a bit of giving the players confidence can do.

“There’s still enough quality there to get through against Kairat, and win certain games against Dundee – and we’re seeing now that there was definitely that quality there.

“They just weren’t confident, for whatever reason, and weren’t feeling that love.

“Imagine Kenny in there, being told ‘we need a striker’, ‘we need a striker’, everyone continuously talking about it.

“He sees that, he feels that. The confidence drained out of him, and I don’t think that was right.

“Taking nothing away from Brendan Rodgers, everything he’s done at that club. He’ll be looked back on as one of the great managers of all time there, treble trebles, won a double again last year. He’s been brilliant with the amount of stuff and trophies he’s won.

“But I think for that last wee bit, the players could feel that the manager… they didn’t feel that love that they’re feeling from Martin O’Neill now. And I think that affected the team.”

Will Brendan Rodgers respond to Dermot Desmond’s statement after leaving Celtic?

It has been claimed that Rodgers is preparing a response to Desmond’s statement last Monday.

But with over a week gone since then, we are still waiting to hear from the man described as ‘divisive’ and self-serving.

It has been said that lawyers could be mobilising in a potential escalation of the feud, but this remains just a rumour.

But with Rodgers linked with the vacant Wolves job, he will surely be interested in trying to defend his reputation.