Just like his team there were two faces on show from Brendan Rodgers at Hampden on Saturday.
After the drama of the penalty shoot-out victory the Celtic boss was joking with the media about the need for therapy, there wasn’t much jokey banter during an exchange with the Celtic kit-man as the players briefly gathered during the break in extra time.
Stevie Wright was talking to Paulo Bernardo when Rodgers marched over, shouted briefly at the kit-man who quickly exiting the scene as the manager delivered a final pep talk before the players returned for the final 15 minutes of the action.
I think the occasion & drama surrounding the game may have got to BR
He’s usually the personification of calmness & composure in public
You can occasionally see him pause when answering interview questions to collect his thoughts
His behaviour was definitely out of character
— The Fast Lovin’ Sin-Soaked Heathen (@fast_sin) April 21, 2024
There’s a video that’s just been posted in the comments which shows exactly what happened.
Most unlike Brendan to lose his composure in such a fashion.
— The Fast Lovin’ Sin-Soaked Heathen (@fast_sin) April 21, 2024
Wright has been around Celtic for more than 20 years which is quite an achievement bearing in mind the different types of managers involved.
From Martin O’Neill and Ronny Deila through to two stints alongside Rodgers and Neil Lennon Wright has probably had spells treading on egg-shells as managers go through their own issues.
As kit man he will be very close to the nitty gritty, sitting in the dug-out but detached from the decision making that can change games- or not.
While Rodgers exuded confidence in his post-match interviews it is understandable how edgy halfway through the aditional 30 minutes.
Substitutions are generally a strength for Rodgers but on Saturday one almost backfired spectacularly.
It was a master-stroke to send on James Forrest just past the hour mark, the veteran could well have turned out to be the hero and match-winner but that prospect was ended in the 89th minute when a long cross to the back post was headed into the net by Ester Sokler.
With that goal in mind Rodgers decided on another substitution in the 119th minute but it won’t go down as one of the greatest decisions of his management career.
Forrest trudged off, Maik Nawrocki was sent on to shore up the defence but in less than 60 seconds Celtic lost an almost identical goal as Aberdeen equalised again- with three additional minutes to survive against the unthinkable.
Whatever was said before the shoot out seemed to work, with the exception of Hart’s penalty Celtic were surprisingly composed from 12 yards out, when Hart saved from Cillian Phillips the relief outmatched the joy.
The Wright incident was a footnote on an eventful afternoon but an insight into the ruthless of Rodgers that is very rarely seen in public.
CLICK HERE for Celtic would have the legue won if it wasn’t for John Beton
CLICK HERE for Joe Hart’s Hampden reaction.
