The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Rodgers stresses the need for unity
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers declared unity was paramount as he welcomed the return of the Green Brigade.
The fan group will be back in Celtic Park for Saturday’s visit of Livingston after a ban was lifted.
About 300 fans had their season tickets suspended for six matches and were denied tickets for away games, while other vocal supporters appeared to stay away in solidarity.
Rodgers said: “Celtic’s history is littered with late goals and a big part of that is down to the fans and the whole stadium really getting behind the team. That’s what makes Celtic.
“When you have the manager, the supporters and the players all on the same page, then it’s a real force.
“It hasn’t been the atmosphere for a number of weeks but that’s the responsibility of everyone.
“But we know when the atmosphere is white hot at Celtic it makes it a really, really difficult place for teams to come and play and also it gives the players that extra edge as well.
“For the guys to be back in, there is no doubt they have given an ambience in that corner section. The club gave them that opportunity to be the first club in Britain to have that safe standing area.
“Hopefully they can go back in and support the team and their responsibility as well as the whole stadium to really get behind the team to help us get the result.”
Fans of Motherwell, Hibernian, Feyenoord and Hearts have been more vocal than the home support in recent weeks outside of very sporadic bursts of noise.
Celtic drew with the Steelmen and then lost their first domestic home game in almost three years against Hearts last weekend.
When asked if the Green Brigade’s absence had contributed to those below-par performances, Rodgers said: “I don’t know if it’s specifically them. We have still had 60,000 in there.
“The responsibility is for everyone.
“Firstly I always look at the team and what we can do as a team to provide the football that can excite the supporters because that’s what we always aim to do.
“But of course Celtic is based around that collect spirit in the stands that really drives the team forward. But either way, I just think it’s really good news. There’s no point looking at the past.
“Great news for them that they can get in and watch their team because they want to support the team and the club. They are better being inside and cheering us on and hopefully that brings us all together and we can now look forward for the rest of the season.”