Mancini is expecting tough test
TO this day, Roberto Mancini still can’t believe Brendan Rodgers was sacked by Liverpool just months after coming so close to a Premier League title.
Six years previously Mancini and Rodgers met to discuss the Northern Irishman possibly joining his coaching staff.
Then in charge of Manchester City, he was keen on Rodgers being in his backroom team before he got the gig as Swansea gaffer.
From then, Mancini has watched Rodgers’ career closely from the Liberty Stadium to Anfield and now to Celtic.
The pair haven’t spoken in a few years but they’ll go toe-to-toe on Thursday at Parkhead in a Europa League last 32 clash.
Mancini is now manager of Zenit St Petersburg, one of the big hitters left in the competition.
And he’s adamant that his multi-million pound side will find it difficult in Glasgow – because of Rodgers’ quality as a coach.
Mancini said: “Brendan had the chance to be a coach with me a few years ago when – it seems like – we were a lot younger!
“Brendan is a very good manager. He did great work at Liverpool and was really unlucky to lose his job.
“He was so unfortunate not to win the Premier League with them in 2014 – and then he was gone. That told me that football can be a strange game sometimes.
“But Brendan has huge qualities and that’s one of the reasons why it will be very tough for us in Scotland this week.
“Celtic are a great team, with some really good players and a top manager who I know all about.
“To play at Celtic Park will be difficult for us because those supporters are incredible. The crowd will be fantastic for the first game but for us, it’s a great place to play football.”