DANNY ROHL HAVE MADE HIMSELF A PERMANENT ENEMY OF THE ENTIRE CELTIC FANS OVER WHAT HE SAID WHEN ASKED ABOUT RIVAL CLUB

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Football thrives on passion, rivalry, and the kind of emotional overreaction that turns an off-hand comment into a full-blown headline. This week, that familiar cycle spun into life again as Danny Röhl found himself at the centre of a growing storm involving Celtic supporters, a rival club, and a set of remarks that many fans believe crossed an invisible but deeply respected line.
Röhl, admired in many quarters for his tactical intelligence and calm, modern approach to management, was asked a seemingly harmless question about a rival club during a media appearance. What followed, however, has been interpreted by Celtic fans as dismissive at best and disrespectful at worst. Within hours, social media was ablaze, phone-ins were dominated by furious callers, and the phrase “permanent enemy” began to stick to Röhl’s name like a badge he never intended to wear.
A comment that lit the fuse
By most accounts, Röhl wasn’t setting out to provoke. Managers are asked about rivals all the time, and the standard responses are well-worn: polite deflection, vague praise, or a quick pivot back to one’s own team. Instead, Röhl chose honesty. He spoke candidly about standards, ambition, and what he believes elite clubs should represent on and off the pitch. In doing so, he referenced Celtic in a way that many supporters felt undermined their club’s stature and history.
To neutral observers, the comments may have sounded analytical, even clinical. To Celtic fans, they sounded personal.
Football supporters are famously protective of their clubs, and Celtic fans are no exception. With a history stretching back well over a century, countless trophies, and a global fanbase, Celtic supporters are acutely sensitive to any suggestion that their club is anything less than a giant of the game. Röhl’s remarks, however they were intended, were taken as a direct challenge to that identity.
Why Celtic fans took it so personally
The reaction from Celtic fans wasn’t just about one interview. It was about context. Celtic, as a club, often finds itself the subject of external judgment — about league competitiveness, European performances, or perceived advantages at home. Many supporters already feel that their club is unfairly scrutinised or patronised by outsiders.
So when Röhl spoke in a way that appeared to lump Celtic into a broader critique of rivals or question the level they operate at, it hit a nerve. Fans interpreted it as another example of someone “on the outside” telling them what their club is or isn’t, without fully understanding its culture, pressure, or expectations.
Within minutes, clips and quotes — some accurate, some selectively edited — were circulating online. The nuance of Röhl’s original answer was lost, replaced by bold claims that he had “disrespected Celtic” or “written them off entirely.” Hashtags calling him arrogant began trending among sections of the fanbase.
From criticism to character judgment
What’s striking is how quickly the conversation shifted from what Röhl said to who Röhl is. Supporters didn’t just criticise the comment; they questioned his credibility, his achievements, and even his right to speak about a club of Celtic’s stature.
For some fans, this was framed as a classic case of a manager “knowing his place.” Röhl, in their eyes, hadn’t earned the authority to pass judgment on Celtic. Others took it further, suggesting that he had revealed an underlying bias or disrespect that would now define any future interaction with the club.
This is how football grudges are born. Not from long-running feuds or controversial matches, but from a single sentence that fans refuse to forget.
The “permanent enemy” label
Calling Röhl a “permanent enemy” may sound dramatic, but in football terms it makes a certain sense. Supporters have long memories. Managers and players who speak out of turn about a club often find themselves relentlessly booed, mocked, or targeted every time their teams cross paths.
Röhl may not manage against Celtic regularly, or even at all in the near future, but that almost makes the situation worse. The grudge exists in theory now — a standing resentment waiting for an opportunity to be expressed. If his name appears in a managerial shortlist, if his team faces Celtic in Europe or a friendly, the narrative is already written.
From the Celtic end, this isn’t about demanding apologies. It’s about loyalty. Fans expect unwavering respect for their club, and once they believe that respect has been breached, forgiveness is rarely offered freely.
Was it blown out of proportion?
Away from the emotion, there is a fair question to be asked: did Röhl really deserve this level of backlash?
Some pundits and neutral fans argue that the reaction says more about modern football culture than about Röhl himself. Managers are expected to be honest, yet punished when honesty clashes with tribal loyalty. Röhl didn’t insult Celtic directly, didn’t mock their fans, and didn’t deny their success. He offered an opinion — one that simply didn’t align with how Celtic supporters see themselves.
Others point out that had the same comments been made by a more established, trophy-laden manager, they might have been accepted as blunt truth rather than arrogance. Röhl’s relative youth and perceived “outsider” status may have amplified the anger.
The road ahead for Röhl
Whether he likes it or not, Danny Röhl will now carry this moment with him. Every future comment about big clubs, rivalries, or standards will be dissected through the lens of “what he said about Celtic.” That’s the price of speaking freely in a sport fuelled by emotion.
He may choose to clarify his remarks, soften his stance, or simply move on and let the noise die down. But for a significant section of the Celtic support, the damage is already done. In their eyes, Röhl crossed a line — and in football, lines once crossed are rarely redrawn.
One comment. One headline. One fanbase united in outrage. Danny Röhl might not have intended to make enemies, but in the unforgiving world of football rivalries, intention often matters far less than perception.