He's honest enough to admit a period of soul searching was required. Maybe even some high level cajoling. And a long lunch with Callum McGregor.
But, in the end, Brendan Rodgers found the lure of a sensational return to Celtic Park, just too strong to turn down. And yesterday, the deal was sealed when the man who set this club off on a blitz of domestic clean sweeps, was officially paraded at the start of this, his second term in the manager’s office. Granted times have changed. Back in 2016 they were queuing up in the car park, just to get a glimpse of him. It was estimated that around 13,000 fans had swooped on the place - so many that they had to open up three stands to accommodate his adoring public.
Yesterday, there were no more than a few hundred milling around outside as Rodgers faced the media for the first time and began the process of soothing some of the hurt which followed his flit-in-the-night to Leicester back in 2019. And that hurt works both ways. Because, while Rodgers admits that he caused their pain by leaving town in the manner he did, the Northern Irishman and wife Charlotte, were also left with significant scar tissue.
From mean spirited banners to masked men breaking into the family home, it could be reasonably argued that Rodgers is due an apology of his own, never mind obligated to say sorry for the way it all ended.
“Someone said about me leaving Celtic in the lurch and I said, ‘Yes, it’s some lurch!’,” he smiled having laid down the foundations for a quadruple treble in his three years in charge
He now replaces Ange Postecoglou off the back of yet another immaculate trophy haul. And Rodgers went on: “That’s the emotion of it, it was a sad time because it happened quickly and people were hurt. I get that.
“I never get too emotional with words but of course when it’s this club and some of the supporters, naturally it hurts, but I’m a professional and in our job, unfortunately you can love a club and be with a club … if you look at Ange and what he did here for a couple of years, a fantastic job.
“He will have loved his time here and won’t find a better environment, a better set of supporters to be working with. But as a coach, there’s a challenge and he’s taking on a challenge at Tottenham. When I went to Leicester, the challenge was taking a mid table team into the top six.
“Celtic still had a good time after I left. When I went to Leicester we had three of the four best finishes in the history of the club, we won the FA Cup, the Community Shield.
“For both of us, it actually worked out well. But, for some, there’s emotion there and I can only put that down to the affinity and the closeness we have. I’m here to try and help those people again and bring the dreams back.”
The Green Brigade accused him of trading immortality for mediocrity. Rodgers clearly does not agree. And it was this festering animosity which weighed heavily on his mind as he weighed up the offer of a return ticket - having already decided to take a year out of the game following his sacking at the King Power.
As previously revealed by Record Sport , It was two lengthy phone conversations with owner Dermot Desmond which eventually tempted him to the table for further talks with CEO Michael Nicholson and financial chief Chris McKay at his holiday home in Mallorca
Rodgers revealed: “I spoke with a number of clubs out of respect and I had options but I was pretty set on taking the time out and being away. Michael initially had spoken to me and I didn’t maybe think it was the right timing. But then I spoke to him again. Dermot called me a couple of times and encouraged me to speak with Michael and Chris, just to look at the infrastructure and what they’ve been building since I’ve been away, over the four years.
“And that excited me. Then, once I had seen that, I had a lunch with Callum McGregor. I had a good couple of hours with him, finding out about the squad and everything else. And that really got me thinking then about coming back.
“I then spoke with my family because I know it was hard when we left and some of the things that happened. But we didn’t want that to diminish the great feeling we had up here. Then, once we gave it that final thought, it was a no brainer really.”
And yet the memories of that terrifying home intrusion have never fully left. Rodgers went on: “I had over a course of a week really, to think through everything. I could have easily sat in my comfortable chair and had a couple of years out before going back but I feel that I can have success here.
“If I can bring back that success then hopefully we’ll win over any doubters, who feel that way about me coming back in.
“I’m sure there are people who have erased everything that I did before because of the nature of how I left. But I didn’t just get up and leave. That’s the thing, I knew what I was doing.
“Like I say, I have never regretted any decision I’ve made in my life. But I certainly regret the people that I’ve hurt both on a personal level and in a professional level
“That was a big reason I came back - the people that I’ve hurt - I wanted to give them back, hopefully, that joy again and really demonstrate that we can succeed together again.”
And, by accepting the role, Rodgers hopes that he has nailed the myth that he was never a genuine Celtic man in the first place. He said: “There’s only so much you can say and probably this time I’ll maybe not express that so much. People close to me knew the team I supported and understand what this means to me.
“To be fair, I could have sat comfortably and gone back into the Premier League. When I left Leicester on the Monday I had a Premier League offer on the Wednesday! You know.
“I could have went in in the summer. Or I maybe could have gone in next summer again. But I wanted to come to Celtic for multiple reasons. It just gives me a special feeling here.
“Whether people think I support the club or not, I’m really not bothered about that. I know and the people close to me know.”
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