Bold Brendan showing the way forward
It was risky business for Brendan Rodgers to take a punt in clear sight.
Brazen? It was at Celtic Park no less. To choose this week of all weeks to openly gamble on a game is Champions League craziness.
But this f lutter from the Celtic boss had more than just method to his madness.
The sight of Leigh Griffiths pulling off the trackie top as the clock ticked on Wednesday night ’ s clash with Man City had the press box fully expecting Moussa Dembele to make way.
Wh e n Nir Bitton’s number went up instead, it was enough to short- circuit a hos t of sportswriters not used to such radical attacking bravado.
Rodgers was rewarded for his bravery by securing a draw, even if the message the Celtic boss declared with his bold substitutions was that he was going for all three points.
As £ 400million of English Premier League talent were grateful to leave Glasgow with a point, a template for football was hopefully also unveiled.
Not a challenge made in anger, no bookings to speak of and goals galore in a contest that flowed from end to end to ensure a purist’s delight. City boss Pep Guardiola had already shown his hand by introducing defender John Stones with 20 minutes to go.
Then Rodgers went for broke by throwing on Griffiths to join Dembele in attack in a refreshingly confident and proactive approach.
It also bucked the usual Scottish football trend when matched up with our so-called betters which involves going on the defensive, hiding behind the couch and hanging on for grim death.
That radical shift in attitude revealed a manager with belief in his side’s ability to snatch a victory and it is light years from a previous coaching set-up that was riddled in self-doubt. The belief Rodgers displayed will have rubbed off on his players. His managerial secret is an ability to make players feel they are far better than they are, not only in words and theory but in practice.
That superb Craig Gordon save in the final seconds was a case in point. And again it was a reward for Rodgers who somehow convinced a man who went from No.1 to No.2 and back again that he had his full confidence.
It bucked trend of going on the defensive and hanging on for grim death