Day Rodgers’ life flipped, he had score updates in chapel

AS the game that persuaded Celtic to make their move for him raged at Hampden one year ago, Brendan Rodgers was celebrating a new life — and contentment in his own life.

‘I was in Belfast at the christening of my young nephew Malachy,’ reported Rodgers, of the day that signalled the end of Ronny Deila’s two-year reign.

‘I was surrounded by lots of people in the chapel on their phones. If my mum had known she’d have killed them if she was alive.

‘I was always up to speed with the score. I watched the game later.

‘I don’t think there was an argument about who the best team was but Celtic could still have won it despite not playing so well.

‘But Rangers were the best team and they deserved to go through.’

Three days after the penalty shoot-out exit from the William Hill Scottish Cup, it was announced Deila would leave the club at the end of his second title-winning season.

That cleared the way for Celtic to pay big money for a tried and trusted boss with a good pedigree as the club knew that Rangers would mean business in the following season.

However, at the time, Rodgers never considered that Celtic’s defeat to their Glasgow rivals would pave the way for his return to the dugout.

‘I never thought at all (about being Celtic manager),’ he said. ‘I was enjoying a break, a rest, trying to map out what the next move might be.

‘It was only when (Deila’s departure) was announced then everything was organised later on and I got a call from Peter (Lawwell).

‘That was probably the first thought I gave it.’

That haunting Hampden memory is expunged already, according to Rodgers, who guided his team to Betfred Cup semi-final success over Rangers then beat Aberdeen 3-0 in the final.

He said ‘When I came in there was a feeling Hampden wasn’t a good place for Celtic.

‘I said: “Okay, you better make it a good place as we want trophies and this is where it’s going to be”.

‘Twice we’ve been there and been outstanding in performance and result. So we’ve been through that already, we don’t need to worry about that.

‘It’s not like it’s the first time back after a year and all the memories are provoked again. It’s gone.

‘It’s a different manager, a different team and a different mentality going into the game. Our Scotland players have been there, even just a few weeks back playing very well and having a good victory.’