The Celtic manager already has two trophies in the cabinet and is chasing a record-busting ninth domestic treble this season
On the pitch, Celtic already have the League Cup in the bag after beating Rangers in the Hampden final back in December whilst off it, the Bhoys are in rude financial health after posting impressive profits last week.
Rodgers was asked how different he is now as a manager from his first time around at Celtic and what he said could be a clue as to why he left the club in 2019 for Leicester City.
Brendan Rodgers admits to being ‘unrealistic’ in his first spell at Celtic
Rodgers told Amazon Prime Sports [17m], “A little bit more relaxed, I would say. I say relaxed in the best possible way.
I think when I came, the ambition to take Celtic, probably for me, might have been, when I look back at it, a little bit unrealistic.
“I think now I understand the process more. I understand where we’re at financially as a club and then that’s the case of really maximizing that.
“So, yeah, I think coming back the second time it has felt great. I drive up here every morning and it’s still an amazing feeling.
At the end of my contract next year I’ll be here nearly six years, which is a long time. But I feel fresh and obviously it’s the players that allow you to feel that and obviously the great stuff that we have.”
Rodgers told the Daily Record back then, “Yeah. My job is done then. Terminado. Gone. [when asked if Celtic didn’t match his ambition, would he leave.]
“But that’s the challenge. You have to test yourself to the limit. You have to be courageous as a club.
“It’s a joy to work here. I love my life here and enjoy being the manager here.
He said: “Dermot (Desmond ), Peter (Lawwell) and Ian (Bankier) all want what is best for Celtic. Critically, they are major shareholders and run the club. I have to respect that, and I do.
My ambition is for Celtic. Every manger is ambitious but for me it’s inherently about the club. We’ve done a double Treble, been invincible in one of those seasons, set a British record for unbeaten games.
“We don’t want to stand still. How do we improve? We improve in Europe and in order to do that, it’s simple, is quality players.
Especially after our first season, we built on it last year. We want to keep building it.
“I totally respect how difficult it can be, the financial side is tough at times.”
It seems now that Rodgers looks back at that with a tinge of regret and it’s great to see that the Celtic boss recognises that even back then, his ambitions for the club might have been premature.
With Celtic backing him heavily in the transfer market this season due to the club’s superb financial results, it looks like the Northern Irishman now understands that to do that, the club had to be in a strong fiscal position.
And looking at where Celtic are now compared to back in 2019, the club’s position is night and day.
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