RODGERS IS TREATING STAR STRIKER GRIFFITHS WITH KID GLOVES
SAYS LEIGH GRIFFITHS “I always try to put myself in their shoes. Family life is crucial to how a footballer performs on the pitch”
FROM the school gates to the portal of the Champions League. For Leigh Griffiths, the hope is that this will prove an unforgettable day in more ways than one.
The striker has lauded the man-management approach of Brendan Rodgers after revealing Celtic’s preparations have been tweaked to allow fathers in the squad a chance to witness their child’s first day at school.
Rodgers believes that priceless piece of family time could provide a psychological boost for his players before they face Hapoel Be’er Sheva in tonight’s Play-Off first leg.
It is a case of treating them like grown-ups. Of offering trust.
Griffiths is certainly anxious to repay his manager for a gesture he sincerely appreciates. The 25-year-old waved off son Rhys on Monday and will do the same with daughter Kacie this morning.
‘I have to give a special thanks to the gaffer, albeit it was lucky we got a home tie first,’ said Griffiths.
‘I went and spoke to the gaffer straight away and he was great about it. He said that if boys had kids, then we would start training later. His manmanagement skills are great.
‘If you have a problem you can go and see him. We could also have been in a hotel the night before the match, but the boys are staying at home.
‘Thankfully, that means I can get to see my little girl go to her first day at school and then meet the boys at lunchtime. ‘It means a lot to me. I missed the kids’ birth due to football commitments, so I was praying we got a home tie first in this round. Thankfully, we did, so the mothers didn’t give me it in the neck! ‘I’ll get ready in the morning and go and see my wee girl go to school. It will be emotional but, as soon as those doors close, my mind is focused on the game. Getting to the hotel, getting a good rest and preparing well. ‘If you are sitting in a hotel all day, it’s possible you could occupy yourself by over-thinking the game — what could and couldn’t happen. But thankfully, the manager has given us the time off.’ Some managers would want their players locked away throughout the entire build-up to a match which has a £20million groupstage bounty at stake.
Rodgers, though, sees things differently. A keen thinker on how best to maximise a player’s well-being — mentally as well as physically — he feels being granted time on the school run can alleviate one element of stress.
‘I’m giving them the chance to go and walk their son or daughter into school,’ he said.
‘That’s a special moment for a father. That’s why we re-jigged the preparation, but it doesn’t affect us. It’s just about planning forward, really.
‘Family is so important. Psychologically, it can be a massive lift for a player.
‘I always try to put myself in their shoes. Ultimately, it’s about getting them on the field in the best possible condition as I can, and that’s in every way.
‘Psychologically, technically, tactically and mentally.
‘Mental fitness is important. So if you have got that release then great. Someone like Leigh Griffiths — a young father — will never, ever get the chance to see his children’s first day at school again. That’s important.
‘OK, we have a big game, but we have lots of time to prepare. I don’t tend to cocoon the players, I treat them like adults.
‘I trust them, and work the trust. Hopefully, they take that responsibility as being a mature human being, and they’ll be prepared mentally. Other coaches may be different.’
Overall, Griffiths feels Rodgers has Celtic as well-honed as possible as they aim to be restored among the Champions League elite following two years of exile.
Twelve months ago, the striker scored twice in a 3-2 home victory over Malmo at this very stage.
Yet that still wasn’t enough as the Swedes won 2-0 in the return leg to leave Ronny Deila’s team in despair.
‘Under this manager, his attention to detail is great,’ added Griffiths. ‘He has pinpointed where we were weak last year and is trying to rectify that straight away.
‘We have been pretty solid defensively and at set-pieces, as well. But he wants set-pieces for us to count. We didn’t do enough from them last year and he is trying to add that to our game.’
Rodgers has already suggested Griffiths would carry a £15m price if he had a more exotic name. The faith in him is clear.
The man who netted 40 goals last season first joined Celtic in a £1m move from Wolves back in January 2014 — a month after the club lost 6-1 to Barcelona in their last group-stage match.
For Griffiths, the chance to prove himself at Champions League level is the keenly desired next stage in an upward curve of improvement.
‘I feel like I am a jinx,’ he laughed. ‘They were in the Champions League before I signed.
‘The only way I can prove myself to everybody around the world is if we get to the Champions League and I get to play when we get there. That is the way I am judged, by scoring goals.
‘(Gary) Hooper did it when he was here and, hopefully, that is how I will fondly be remembered — as one of the great players to score in the Champions League.
‘Unfortunately, I have not done it yet. But if we can do it over the next two games, I will be absolutely delighted and looking forward to the run-in.
‘I can only score against the teams I am playing against. Everybody says he hasn’t done it in this or that.
‘But look at the teams last year. I played against Ajax and Fenerbahce (in the Europa League) and scored against Fenerbahce in the home game.
‘If we get to the Champions League, it will be a great test. And if I can prove myself there I will be very happy.
‘Of course I am confident I could do it, but it is not just about me in terms of scoring goals.
‘We have Moussa (Dembele), Scott (Sinclair), Tom (Rogic), James (Forrest) and Patrick (Roberts). We can get goals from all over the place.’