UPHOLDING THE TRADITIONS
Rodgers knows he must win with style
RONNY DEILA’S deep–seated belief was always that the style of winning a title was almost irrelevant. In his mind, getting over the line was the only thing that truly mattered.
In a city where second place has always been nowhere, in one sense, it was hard to take issue with the affable Norwegian’s stance.
Yet the lack of premium he placed upon panache frequently betrayed a lack of awareness of Celtic’s DNA. The Parkhead club do not have a monopoly on success in the game but it’s the need to have it garlanded by inventive, attacking football that heightens the demands on whoever happens to be at the helm.
Upon succeeding Deila in the post last June, Brendan Rodgers was able to skip the history lesson. As a lifelong fan of the club, there was no requirement for anyone to underscore the myriad expectations that surround it.
Ten months on from walking up the tunnel to greet 13,000 expectant fans, just about every box has been ticked.
Not only is a sixth title now within touching distance, a 36-game unbeaten domestic run has been achieved while reprising the swashbuckling style of yesteryear.
‘That’s always been the way,’ said Rodgers. ‘It’s the traditions of this club. You win but there’s a way to win.
‘The job as manager is to uphold those traditions. It’s how I also work. I demand a lot from players and these players have been absolutely amazing.
‘When you think of the history of this club since 1888, only two managers have (won the Treble).
‘Going through a season unbeaten … we do our best.’
Tomorrow offers the chance to confirm what’s been in the post since the middle of September.
Emphatic back-to-back victories against Aberdeen and Rangers around that time suggested Celtic’s grip on the league flag was vice-like. Some 29 games in, with just two matches drawn, it’s been all that and more.
No matter how inevitable the crowning moment has been for much of the campaign, for Rodgers, it will be something to truly savour.
‘It will mean a hell of a lot,’ he said. ‘It will be a demonstration of the work from our very first day on June 19 when we came in. ‘This was one of the trophies that we targeted. The team had won five titles prior to me coming in and there was expectancy. However, could we win it in the best way possible?
‘I think the players are winning it in the best way they possibly could do with the level of performance, the consistency and a professionalism they’ve shown.
‘We’re building an attitude here and an energy to build on over the next number of years, which will hopefully see them progress and progress.’
The need for constant improvement from all around him is the Rodgers mantra. Were matters to go his side’s way tomorrow afternoon, you would anticipate a few stolen moments of quiet satisfaction.
But there will be no mass letting down of hair. Not yet anyway. The methodology which has brought Celtic to the cusp of winning the title while unbeaten is a constant companion.
‘I was in with the coaching staff this morning for 20 minutes looking at video and areas where, tactically, we can be better and better,’ explained Rodgers.
‘I’ve never really settled because we are trying to build something ongoing.
‘What’s been pleasing for me has been the relationship between the training and the games. The joy is just seeing the response of the players.
‘But I have always said to them that you have to be careful. You can never get too carried away.
‘I was once told by a very intelligent man that a slap on the back is only six inches from a slap on the a***. So you always have to be careful.
‘But being careful allows you to progress. If you want to progress and you want to succeed, you have to keep pushing.’
Everyone has their limits, though. Just as each individual is entitled to occasionally pause for reflection. So when does that moment arise?
‘It will come at the end of the season once we get a little period of rest, which we’ll all be in need of,’ said Rodgers.
‘It’s been a long season and we want to finish on a great story.
‘Obviously, the title was one of the trophies we wanted to win.
‘We can see the finish line. It’s nearly there. So let’s get over it in style and that’s that ticked off before moving to the next one.’
In clinching the title at such an early juncture, the Celtic manager is able to ease many a burden. Resting international players after the final Rangers game of the season on April 29 will allow them to feature in matches for their countries in June without the fear of burnout.
The scheduling of international football ten days before his squad reassemble for pre-season is a problem all concerned could well live without, but the Champions League qualifiers no longer hold quite the same sense of foreboding as last year.
‘I think we will be in a totally different place this summer compared to last,’ said Rodgers.
‘We were really forming a lot of things back then. We have stability now within the squad and a lot of understanding of how we’re working, but you still have to be at a level of fitness.
‘Last year I felt a lot of the players weren’t fit when they came back, for whatever reason. They’re going to come back fit this year. Then it’s a case of adding to it.’