Brendan Rodgers was utterly stunned during his press conference on Thursday.
The Celtic manager sat down in front of reporters ahead of facing Falkirk in the second round of the Premier Sports Cup on Friday night at Parkhead.
Journalists naturally asked him about transfers, his thoughts on playing Kairat Almaty in the Champions League play-off, and Daizen Maeda’s contract discussions.
But what he did not expect to be clearing up was a ridiculous question from a reporter about a bizarre conspiracy theory.
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Rodgers addresses Celtic fan theory over not wearing a tie
A Celtic fan reportedly called into Clyde 1 Superscoreboard’s radio show recently and claimed that because Rodgers did not wear a tie on Sunday for the Aberdeen game, he was sending a message about something.
So a journalist bizarrely put that theory to Rodgers, who simply could not believe that he had to address his choice of attire at Pittodrie.
Journalist: “Brendan, this is today’s silly question. There was a bit of furore on Gordon’s (Gordon Duncan) show, a number of people had phoned in anxious that you didn’t wear a tie at Pittodrie on Sunday. Was there any reason other than you chose not to wear a tie?
Rodgers: “I know. It’s unbelievable. Someone has told me this here. I’m supposedly sending a message. It’s unbelievable.
“I’m basically like everyone else. See when it’s really hot, you either have to take off your jacket or your tie. And see when it’s really cold, you wear a jumper.
“So I remember last year I wore a jumper. People say: ‘He’s sending a message.’ What message? It was bloody freezing. I was standing with a jumper on and a big coat and it was up to there and I’m fine.
“And last week, there’s two grounds that I’ve realised in my career that are absolutely boiling, right? If you get it at the time and the sun’s hitting your dugout – Pittodrie and Preston.
“I went there once before and I got absolutely roasted on the on the day and Pittodrie’s the same because the sun comes and it hits you. So I thought: ‘Well, I’ve either got to take off my jacket or take off my tie.’ So I took my tie off. I don’t know what message that is. I’m just warm.
“This is modern football, eh? So, I’m sorry if I’ve wasted people’s energy and time on being wrong, but I was just a wee bit hot and that’s why I was no tie.”
Rodgers ends with dig at journalists
After explaining his decision not to wear a tie against Aberdeen, a separate journalist acknowledged the fact that it was a “daft question” to ask.
Rodgers then delivered a playful dig at the reporters by saying: “I tell you what is really good here, how you’re actually claiming they are daft, but when I get them every week and you don’t say they are daft!
Celtic will now prepare for Falkirk in the hope they can progress to the quarter-final stage of the Premier Sports Cup.
Of course, Celtic beat the Bairns last year in the competition on their way to winning the trophy at Hampden Park against Rangers.
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