Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
THE GREEN GRIN GRASS OF HOME
Rodgers: Celtic is where I belong now and I am very happy here. You don’t get the chance down south to develop players any more and that is what I love doing the most
BRENDAN RODGERS has dismissed suggestions he might get bored of stuffing Celtic’s trophy room with silverware.
The Parkhead boss claimed a fourth successive major honour on Sunday when his side dumped Motherwell 2-0 in the Betfred Cup final – as he clocked up a 65th domestic game without suffering a single defeat.
With last season’s invincibles topping the SPFL summit, Rodgers is now closing in on a second successive clean sweep.
But as the honours pile up in his office, the former
Liverpool boss has laughed off suggestions he might somehow get tired of spearheading
Celtic’s monopoly.
Rodgers has turned down a number of potential opportunities to manage again in
England’s top flight since heading north of the border 18 months ago. Swansea were keen to discover if he might be willing to consider a return.
West Ham were also believed to have been sending out overtures before appointing Davie Moyes but Rodgers remains completely focused on building a long lasting legacy at Celtic Park.
He said: “This is my fifth job now. I always say happiness and energy are the two things you need.
“There’s always a challenge at Celtic and there always will be, whoever is in charge here. For me, I’m very happy in my professional life. I’m developing players, I love that side of the game.
“I have a look at England now and I see how a manager can very quickly be out of his job and maybe not have the time to improve players.
“That’s my life, that’s what I’ve always done. I enjoy that side of it but I also enjoy the pressure of managing a big club. It feels natural for me to do that and Celtic’s a huge club.
“It’s one where I’m happy, I’ve got an energy, I’m still 44 so I’ve got a long way to go but I don’t even think of that, as long as I’m working well with the }club and the club believe in me, the supporters believe in me and I’m obviously very happy.”
Rodgers could take the opportunity to freshen up his team tomorrow after Sunday’s exertions at Hampden.
Tom Rogic, Patrick Roberts and Olivier Ntcham could feature from the start with the crunch tie with Anderlecht looming large on the horison.