THE WISE HAVE IT
Hydro chat with Fergie & gold dust memories from club’s old Bhoys gives Bren Hampden inspiration
BRENDAN RODGERS spent a part of his Hampden build-up listening to Sir Alex Ferguson tell him all about Jock Stein.
Today at Hampden, he can become just the second manager after Martin O’Neill to emulate the great man.
For Rodgers, the chance to achieve the same feat is harder to get his head around than it might be to deliver on the pitch.
In his eyes achieving what Stein did twice by winning a domestic treble for Celtic is where any similarities between the pair end.
Ferguson once cited that the Hoops legendary manager’s greatest quality was transforming the performances and character of a group of players.
Not unlike what Rodgers has done this season. But for everyone who has ever followed at Celtic Park, Stein is the benchmark.
Rodgers admits he still collects “gold dust” from the legend even now through conversations with the likes of Danny McGrain and John Clark.
Stein dominated the Northern Irishman’s conversation with Ferguson at the Hydro this week for a concert to mark the 50th anniversary of the Lisbon Lions.
Rodgers said: “What was interesting meeting with Sir Alex was listening to his Jock stories. It just shows you the manager and what he has achieved in his career and his humility. The longer I have been in here the more details I get to know about Jock.
“When I listen to Danny McGrain and John Clark these guys give me little bits of gold dust every day about how it was before.
“You think back to him and what he created for not just Scottish football but British football.
“He was the figure who inspired all other British teams into thinking they could achieve something. Not just in any way either but in a particular style.
“At that time in Europe, football was very defensive. He brought in a creative style, an unpredictable way of playing, an attacking style that is synonymous with Celtic to this day. Sir Alex Ferguson talked through that and what he was like.
“It is not dissimilar on how Johan Cruyff imposed a style of football on Barcelona.
“To this day it is revered and has created a platform for the great success that Barcelona have had over a number of years.
“Some of his disciples at that time have come through and coached and managed in that way.
“Jock had a way of working that every other manager after him had to measure themselves by. That was what they were judged on.
“You couldn’t just win at Celtic, that wasn’t enough, you had to win in a particular style. That is what he brought to the club.”
Chief executive Peter Lawwell insisted this week he saw shades of Stein within the work of Rodgers but the current boss said: “It is different times and eras. I have only been here a season.
“I hope my ways of working, in terms of how the team plays, the identity and style, along with the demands that are put on players and what they do for the club, pleases the fans.
“But every manager is different. They have their own cycles and different ways of working. Times have changed now. I didn’t know Jock so I
CRAIG SWAN
couldn’t comment. But if anyone thinks it is similar then it’s always an honour.”
It’s honours of a silver nature which of course dominate Rodgers’s thinking right now.
Those who have lived the same life and through the same pressures know the position he is in.
O’Neill, the only other treble winner, was at the Hydro. He chatted to him and Neil Lennon, Kenny Dalglish, and Gordon Strachan.
While none of them appear surprised at the position Rodgers finds himself in at the moment, there is an admission from the man himself that perhaps he does.
He said: “So many things have happened but you just don’t think about that. On the first day you are presenting to your players and thinking about getting them to follow you in the way you work and the way you want them to play.
“Then you set your targets in pre-season about what you want to achieve and the players have superseded them.
“As the season has gone on longer and longer we have been able to adjust our goals and keep striving.
“Can you break the barrier and keep going to the next one? But you have to do that without suffocating the players.
“You have to feel there is another goal but if they don’t achieve it then it is okay.
“However, if they can reach that barrier and go beyond it then it is a wonderful place.”
If Celtic get over this last hurdle this afternoon it really will be wonderful and magical.
In terms of treble achievement, it will put Rodgers alongside O’Neill – and, more importantly, Stein.
Rodgers said: “I’ll think about it after if it happens. If it does, great, but if not I’ve done my best. We’ll go again next year and try to do the same thing.
“I just hope in my time here at Celtic I do my best.
“Whatever happens it won’t change me.
“For the history of the club and its ambitions, I want to win.”