Chris Sutton has expressed his ‘surprise’ at being told by a Celtic supporter that he feels Brendan Rodgers was ‘emotionally blackmailed’ into a return to the club.
The Celtic legend was doing punditry work for the BBC where he was talking to a caller on Radio 5 Live’s 606 programme.
One Celtic fan rang up the former striker and told him that Brendan Rodgers was ‘emotionally blackmailed’ into making a return to the club in the summer and how he doesn’t think he is ‘100% committed’ to the cause at Parkhead.
As you can imagine, Chris Sutton defended those claims, but agreed that it has been a ‘difficult’ start to life back at Celtic for the Northern Irishman.
The Bhoys are still unbeaten in the Premiership this season and they hold an eight-point lead at the top of the table after the comeback win at St Johnstone on Sunday.
The performances and results in the Champions League have put a massive dampener on things, which is probably why some fans are downbeat.
Brendan Rodgers’ return to Celtic
“You surprised me a little there,” Sutton responded.
The Celtic fan added: “My theory is that Brendan Rodgers coming back to Celtic, I think he was emotionally blackmailed into it. The way the team is playing. He is watching it. We are watching it. He has lost to the worst Lazio team I have seen in my life, home and away.
“I believe if you are watching Yang for 180 minutes, then he can see it. I’m not an elite coach, he is. That team isn’t functioning properly and I am wondering if he wants to be there – I am not sure he was 100% committed to taking the Celtic job, but he has taken it.”
Sutton’s response: “You say he has been emotionally blackmailed back?! Do you accept though that Brendan needs time because Ange Postecoglou’s team performed so strongly, didn’t they?!
“The team, from last season, it has been difficult. It has been a difficult start for Brendan, essentially.”
Patience is needed with Brendan Rodgers
The manner in which he first left the club is something that will continue to leave a bitter taste in the mouth of the supporters.
But, at the end of the day, he delivered before, and now he is back in the dugout, there is no reason why it won’t happen again.
Whilst it’s probably right to argue that the engine really hasn’t gone going yet with Rodgers, it’s still impressive that the team is unbeaten, including winning at Ibrox.
For argument’s sake, if Rangers win their game in hand, then the gap is five points.
But if Rangers are beaten at Parkhead at the end of the month, then the lead is back to eight points for Celtic.
It will be interesting to see what the viewpoint of some critics of Rodgers will be then because winning games can change the mood of a lot of people, so let’s be patient.
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