Bren targets Euro spot and trophy
BRENDAN RODGERS says the lure of the Premier League prompted his heartbreak decision to walk away from Celtic.
The 46-year-old has taken the reins at Leicester and says even memories of Steven Gerrard’s slip that cost the title helped make the offer irresistible.
Rodgers famously came within a whisker of leading Liverpool to the title in 2014 when club legend Gerrard slipped and let in Chelsea’s Demba Ba to score.
He insisted the challenge of pitting his wits against the best coaches and players in the world was behind his controversial defection south of the Scottish border.
Rodgers said: “Unfinished business?
Well, I always said I would come back.
“Sometimes people say you are deluded when actually you are just being positive.
“People talk about not getting over the line with Liverpool and they talked about pressure but in the last 14 games we won 12 and drew one. We were playing absolutely brilliantly, it was just the end.
“The Chelsea game was the one that changed it and the slip and all that. It was unfortunate but Stevie was brilliant for me.
“It’s those moments that drive you on. It happened but no, I don’t think about it every day.”
Rodgers revealed that Gerrard, now boss at Rangers, had texted him to wish him all the best in his new job.
He added: “At Celtic I was at a club that was everything to me. I had an incredible time there. To leave that, it had to be for something special.
“If I was making a decision with my heart I would be at Celtic forever.
“Life was great there. I loved the city, the people, the club, my daughter was at school there – you would never move.
Ambition
“But if I was going to come back to the Premier League it wasn’t just about a club, it had to be about the right club.
“The timing probably wasn’t right but unfortunately I had to make a decision. It wouldn’t wait.
“But this is a real opportunity to develop a team and a club with real ambition.
“It’s not been easy. I have family who are deeply upset about it. I had to remove the emotion from my decision and think, ‘Has my journey here finished?’.
“I have seen some of the abuse. Celtic fans will hurt and I understand that totally.”
Rodgers said he had not paid too much attention to reports of player power in the Leicester dressing room.
“It’s time to press the re-set button. Can we challenge for Europe? Can we win a trophy? I think so,” he said.
“Player power? I’ve heard this. Normally you find that comes from players who care and when something is not quite right, they let you know.
“I’m happy to have that type of player. They’re ambitious and want to work well.
“I don’t see an issue. If it oversteps the mark I will deal with it but all I see is a group of hungry players ready to say, ‘Let’s go again’.”
He added: “I’ve spoken to Kasper Schmeichel. The players were off on Wednesday but the previous night I said to them I’d be at the training ground if anyone wanted to come in for a chat.
“He was one who came in. He’s passionate and he’s a top goalkeeper as well.”
The former Reading and Swansea boss also spoke with England internationals Ben Chilwell and Harry Maguire and isn’t worried they could be snatched away.
Rodgers said “Players like that were part of the draw for me. There’s a raft of talented young players here.
“There are always going to be other possibilities for players, but we’ll deal with that when it comes.
“I’ve had a nice chat with Harry. He is a big talent.
“Bigger clubs may well come in for him but it doesn’t worry me. At this moment I’m not thinking about things like that.”