After 16 minutes of friendly questioning about all matters European and Bayern Munich there was an attempt to ambush Brendan Rodgers at the end of today’s media conference.
A variety of questions had been thrown up with the Celtic boss earnest in his answers whether it was the improved form of Yang Hyun-jun through to the fitness of James Forrest and the maturing of the squad over nine Champions League matches so far this season.
From various angles across Germany there has been all manner of praise for the Celtic support from the unique Champions League atmosphere to the way that they helped rally their team towards an equaliser when all seemed lost at 2-0 down after 49 minutes.
Across social media a number of non-aligned accounts had praised the Green Brigade for raising the issue of Israel’s red carpet treatment into European football
Praise in Scotland is somewhat rarer, if delivered it is usually qualified with today’s media conference a typical example.
16 minutes
QUESTION: Brendan, there were a couple of times the other night when some fans were quick to get on Greg Taylor’s back if he wasn’t going forward. Do you think they need to show a bit more patience there?
RODGERS: I thought the crowd were brilliant the other night. I thought they were fantastic, the noise level. Maybe because it was a knock-out game it felt even more than what it normally does.
I thought the atmosphere was incredible in the game. I thought we had great support, naturally. You misplace a pass, whatever, it’s going to happen. I thought the crowd were brilliant.
Rodgers could have burst out laughing but rather than indulge in the question he recognised the intention all along.
Any sort of acknowledgement would quickly be turned into having a go at the Celtic support, the hoops manager isn’t as naive as the questioner.
He didn’t bite, he turned it around to praise the Celtic support for their backing on the night against Bayern Munich
Without doubt Taylor is in a delicate situation at the moment, one that has been ticking along all season
On contracts Celtic have been very proactive, players are regularly signed up onto extensions 18 months or less after signing up. That means very little, if an offer comes in at a certain price Celtic won’t let the issue of a contract interfere with generating further profits.
Matt O’Riley was sold 10 months after signing his second Celtic contract, last month Kyogo Furuhashi moved on 18 months after signing up on another deal.
It is fairly rare for players to go into the final year of their Celtic contract, David Turnbull did and moved to Cardiff last January with a few months left on his contract
Since Rodgers returned in June 2023 there has been quite a few signs suggesting that the return of Kieran Tierney was a strong possibility.
From the inside Taylor and his representatives will know even better what has been going on, it didn’t surprise anyone when Rodgers announced that a pre-contract deal had been agreed with the Arsenal defender ahead of the Aston Villa match.
Alex Valle has moved on, Jeffrey Shlupp has signed up but Taylor continues at left-back.
The Champions League be a stretch too far for Taylor but domestically he has been a first pick under two top managers, with 10 winners medals to his name he has been an outstanding success with every chance of two more before his contract expires in the summer.
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