Former Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has stated that Brendan Rodgers, who is set to return to Celtic as manager, knows that he will need to win over some sections of the club’s supporters.
Rodgers’ departure from Celtic in 2019 to join Leicester City was met with criticism from some fans, who labelled him a “fraud” and a “rat” despite his successful tenure at the club.
Speaking to Greatest Hits radio, O’Neill said: [The Sun]
“When Brendan left the football club some fans weren’t happy, so he has to overcome that.
“I think he knows that himself.”
Rodgers, who led Celtic to domestic success during his three seasons at the club, is set to return to a team that is currently performing well. O’Neill believes that Rodgers’ previous success at the club and his desire to overcome any lingering resentment from fans will drive him to succeed in his second stint at Celtic.
“But like anything else, you start winning football matches, that’s forgotten. The sooner you win the games, the better.
“He’s coming into a really winning side, he was successful himself as the manager.
“At the end of it all, there’ll be the occasional feeling he left under more difficult circumstances, but I think if you win the football matches, you’re forgiven.”
At the end of the day, winning is all the fans want, so if Rodgers continues bringing success to Celtic, the fans won’t be long to forgive him.
His first challenge will be just the fifth or sixth game of the season when Celtic are set to face The Rangers in the first derby of the new campaign. Confirmation of this will come next Friday when the fixtures are released.
