Brendan Rodgers has Celtic on the brink of securing the Scottish Premiership title after a rollercoaster first campaign back in Glasgow’s east end.
The Irishman has seen his side in a position of strength with an eight-point lead, five points behind their city rivals and now six in front with two games to go; however, he has remained a calm figure on the touchline throughout.
Rodgers is an experienced manager with a track record of elevating the sum of his parts; nevertheless, he admitted after his side’s 2-1 victory over Rangers last weekend that this season has been the ‘most challenging’ of his managerial career, per BBC Sport.
He stated: “There is no doubt that it’s been probably the most challenging season I’ve had as a manager, but we need to finish it well now, and that’s the plan.”
Despite never being out of touching distance, Celtic have experienced a campaign filled with curveballs, including major injury problems, inconsistent form in periods, and a difficult January window, where only two arrivals came through the Parkhead entrance.
Nevertheless, if Rodgers can get his hands on a domestic double, his first year back in charge after replacing Ange Postecoglou in the summer of 2023 would have to be quantified as a success.
Paul Lambert on Brendan Rodgers returning to Celtic
Last year, Rodgers’ return wasn’t a universally popular appointment, though fans will be familiar with the merits of bringing the Irishman back to the club now.
Speaking live on talkSPORT, former Celtic midfielder Paul Lambert has aired how he really felt about the 51-year-old stepping back into the Parkhead dugout after four years south of the border at Leicester City.
In the face of some opposition, Lambert has insisted that his old club hiring Rodgers for a second time was a ‘no-brainer’ decision in light of Postecoglou’s departure.
He stated when asked about the subject by show host Jeff Stelling: “Jeff, I thought it was a no-brainer when they did it.
“Following Ange, it doesn’t matter who it was; it was always going to be really difficult. If you bring in somebody new, I think it might have been dangerous, but I thought it was a no-brainer bringing Brendan back.
“Brendan knew the club; he’d been at big clubs before, he knew exactly what he was doing, and he knew the expectancy level of the club where you have to win every single game you play in. You can’t play tiddlywinks at Celtic and Rangers; you’ve got to win it; if you don’t, you’re under severe pressure.
“Brendan knew it like the back of his hand, I thought it was a great decision to bring him back.”
Brendan Rodgers should be backed by Celtic this summer
Whatever happens in the remainder of this season, Rodgers should be given the appropriate financial tools to build a side in his own image at Celtic.
Squad improvements will be necessary for the club to compete in continental competition next term; however, Mark Cooper’s appointment last week could offer some encouragement to fans from a recruitment standpoint.
For now, Celtic can enjoy the remaining weeks of 2023/24 before all their focus turns towards road mapping long-term success under Rodgers moving forward.
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