Boss warns Hart he will miss the pressure

BRENDAN RODGERS says Joe Hart has “dealt with pressure all his life” as the Celtic manager looks to help the former England and Manchester City goalkeeper end his career on a high at Parkhead.

Hart, 36, last week announced his decision to retire at the end of this campaign despite enjoying a rich vein of form during a 10-match unbeaten streak in which he has only conceded four goals.

But the Scottish champions have fallen to second place after dropping four Premiership points during that sequence, allowing Rangers to move top of the table last weekend following Celtic’s disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Kilmarnock.

Asked if the decision to announce his retirement had taken the pressure off the veteran goalkeeper for the remainder of the season, Rodgers said the 75-times capped keeper is used to dealing with pressure.

“Everyone seems to be retiring! When the pressure’s not there, you want it,” Rodgers said. “When it’s there, you want a holiday!

“Listen, it’s part of the game. If you can’t handle pressure, especially at the biggest clubs, those aren’t the clubs for you.

“Go away, there’s plenty of clubs for you where it’s like a holiday. You play one game a week and there’s no drama.

“If you draw a couple of games and win eight, you’ll be held up there.

“But with the biggest clubs, that’s part of the deal.

“Joe has dealt with pressure for most of his life. He just wants to finish on a high.”

Rodgers believes Hart remains focused on delivering for the club between now and the end of the season and expects him to continue to work in the game after calling time on his playing days, pointing to a similar desire to end his career on a high note taken by a fellow England internationalist when Rodgers was in charge at Liverpool.

“I had the same thing with Jamie Carragher at Liverpool. He was 35 and arguably my best defender at the time. But he wanted to go out on top and had earmarked what he was going to do.

“He had a great career and so has Joe. He wants to finish this season on a high and I’m sure he’ll stay in football.

“It’s hard to reflect when you’re still in it. But he’s played really well and stepped up for this club on many occasions. But we know what the future is now and he’ll do his very best to help the team until the end of the season.”