Brendan Rodgers swept back into Celtic Park and then insisted he has no need to apologise for leaving the club four years ago.
The 50-year-old was officially unveiled and paraded to a small gathering of fans outside the stadium after putting pen to paper on a three year contract at the start of the week. And he immediately addressed the lingering sores which remain among sections of the support over his decision to quit for Leicester City in 2019, as the club closed in on a third successive treble. But Rodgers remains adamant that here is no need for him to say sorry for swapping Parkhead for the King Power.
He said: “You make a decision in your life, we all make decisions. I’ve never regretted a decision I’ve made, what I regret is the hurt. I knew people were hurt at that time, it was a sad moment. I had family, close friends and it absolutely knocked them. What that then does to other supporters, I totally understand that. But these are the decisions you make as a professional.
“I’m pretty sure Virgil van Dijk didn’t apologise when he left, or Wanyama, or Henrik or Kieran Tierney. That doesn’t mean we love the club less, it’s a professional judgement you make.
"I can accept what has come my way with that, but what I didn’t accept was the personal stuff with the family.”
Days after leaving for Leicester Rodgers had his family home in Bearsden broken into by masked intruders - while wife Charlotte locked herself in a bathroom. He admitted yesterday that he had to take this sinister turn of events in mind as he weighed up his decision to bring his family back to Glasgow.
The Rodgers clan was by his side as wife Charlotte and several family members joined the manager at his unveiling. And he confirmed he is aware that ultras group the Green Brigade have also doubled down on their position in the last few days, having accused him of being a ‘fraud’ at the time of his departure.
And the Irishman admitted to being stung by their reaction. He said: “It’s only human isn’t it? You give everything, your life, to the club. But that was the decision I made and you have to accept that and get on with it.”
Rodgers admitted he is aware that that same section of fans sent out the same message in the last few days. He nodded: “I was aware of that. For me, I love the club and the supporters and you will have critics.
"With the greatest respect, I don’t think winning a club the FA Cup for the first time in their history was mediocre, or taking them into Europe when they’d never been and having three of the best four finishes in the league. I don’t think it’s mediocre but everyone is entitled to their opinion.
“It’s not about feeling nervous. I am more excited. I think I’d given it long enough to think. Four years, it doesn’t feel like yesterday I’ve been away from here. I wouldn’t say I was nervous.
“I know there are enough supporters who respect the work I did but I wanted to come back to finish the work I’d started here. Over the four years I was away I bumped into a lot of Celtic supporters who were positive at the time.
‘You are never going to please everyone. When I was here I had critics, even when we won seven out of seven. I would expect that coming back again. But it doesn’t affect me.”
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