Brendan Rodgers was on top form as he toyed with the Scottish media this afternoon, Keith Jackson of the Daily Record provided the easiest of targets.
The veteran Daily Record reporter was perceived as having a special bond with the Celtic boss but that came to a shuddering halt at the end of February when an off the record briefing was splashed across the pages of the Daily Record.
Rodgers had spent 30 minutes putting on a display to newspaper reporters explaining that his style of football was similar to the football produced during two years of Ange-ball.
While the other reporters present respected being given that insight Jackson decided that Daily Record readers deserved to know all about the private session.
That was not the intention of Rodgers.
Jackson’s story made the Celtic boss appear insecure and defensive about his style of play.
After that incident daily and Sunday newspapers were no longer given an exclusive interview with Rodgers which would be embargoed until 10.30pm.
Since then all reporters have been invited to what was previously known as the broadcast media conference. With Celtic publishing the conference in full on You Tube by 3pm on the day there are no fresh lines or news for the 10.30pm editions or the legacy print editions.
Jackson hasn’t been the most popular hack in the room since then, not that he cares about popularity contests.
Fast forwarding to Celtic’s 0-0 draw at Dundee United on December 22 and Jackson had another exclusive for Record readers!
Celtic were on the ropes, in the midst of a mini slump with Phil Clement starting the new year just six points behind the hoops with the lads at Record sport ready to relaunch their Celtic In Crisis Special complete with the famous cracked crest.
It seems that that scoop was the product of the festive spirit, just over a week later Jackson was at Lennoxtown discussing a dead rubber, Celtic’s superiority and the manner in which Rodgers has mastered the fixture that used to have the Record drooling at the feet of Sir Walter or wee Dicky Advoccat.
Spending 20 minutes in the company of Jackson and his peers is a chore for Rodgers but holding all of the cards he threw a few slaps towards the veteran Record reporter that raised some laughs in the room.
6 minutes
JACKSON: Gordon Strachan always talked about this picture and said after it, when you’re in the manager’s room, he always wanted to speak to the Rangers manager because he said they were the only two people inside that room that knew what it was like, that could experience it. They were the only two that could actually have a real conversation about it. In a situation such as you’re about to encounter at Ibrox, do you have empathy for the other guy? Can you have that in this situation?
RODGERS: I have empathy for every manager and coach because until the curtains go back and the spotlight is on you, you can never even begin to imagine what it feels like. People can sit so close to you and be there but until you’re charged with leading a team in a club and then what comes with that, you’ll never truly get the grasp of what it means.
So for every coach and manager, particularly I have real empathy for them because at times you’re biting your tongue. You’re having to listen to or acknowledge people that couldn’t manage the way out of an empty room and you have to bite your tongue. But all you can do and understand and know about football management is that all the words mean nothing.
Mini Celtic wobble has opened door for reinvented Rangers to write title race plot twist no-one saw coming | Keith Jacksonhttps://t.co/R4UX0xQVbU pic.twitter.com/gJIg0Q7tcx
— Daily Record Sport (@Record_Sport) December 23, 2024
10 minutes 20 seconds
QUESTION: A colleague mentioned this fantastic record you personally have against Rangers. Do you remember that one defeat in 20? Is that a motivation for you?
RODGERS: No, not so much. I said at the time that Rangers were better than us on that day. So I’ve got no complaint.
I won’t look for an excuse with a referee. They were better than us. So we have to accept that and show gratitude to the other team.
They played well and then we move on to the next game. But for me, it’s not about that, not having that feeling.
It’s a feeling you don’t want at any time, losing a game of football. That’s how we approach it. We go in there with a real attacking mindset.
By that I mean attacking when we don’t have the ball. Being really aggressive in our game. Then playing the level of game that we’ve played consistently for a period of time. Despite the ‘mini slumps’.
Talking of slumps, daily sales of the Record during November were down to 45,599, a year on year drop of 17%
At some point in the spring they will almost be certain to be reporting on Celtic’s 55th title win while trying to keep sales above 40,000 for as long as possible.
Rodgers was also asked about what he had learned about ‘Rangers’ in the recent League Cup Final, after a short pause he reminded the room that ‘we won the game’, a FACT! that was largely overlooked by legacy media in the fortnight following Celtic’s 199th triumph.
Having won 10 out of 11 trophies over two spells as Celtic manager Rodgers has the highest win rate in the history of Scottish football, with Celtic 14 points clear in the SPFL after 18 matches and about to start their defence of the Scottish Cup there is every sign that his Roll of Honour will be increased during 2025.
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