Ange Postecoglou admits it was great to see Brendan Rodgers at Hampden last week supporting Celtic.
The current Hoops boss insists he didn't get the chance to catch up with the Irishman, but he'd certainly like the chance to in the near future.
The ex-Parkhead manager was spotted in the stands at the national stadium as Celtic defeated Rangers 1-0 in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup last Sunday.
And while Ange didn't meet up with Rodgers before or after the game, he revealed that the 50-year-old has been incredibly supportive since his arrival from Japanese football nearly two years ago.
He said: “No, I didn’t catch up with Brendan. He has sent me countless messages from the moment I was appointed and did send me a message that he would be at the game and wish me all the best. He has been great and supportive of all we have done.
“He has been in this position and knows how special it is at this football club to have success, and how hard you have to work to get it. It was great to see him there and I’m sure I’ll catch up with him at some point.”
Rodgers left Celtic in February 2019 to join Leicester.
The ex-Liverpool gaffer enjoyed great success at the King Power, guiding them to consistently high-placed finished in the Premier League to guarantee European football, and also to lift their first-ever FA Cup.
He was sacked in recent months after a dismal campaign, though, with the Foxes very much in danger of relegation to the Championship. He remains out of work.
Meanwhile, Postecoglou also admitted he’s no fan of traditions being ‘messed about’ amid a furore over the Scottish Cup final’s altered kick-off time.
Celtic expressed their disappointment earlier this week after the Hampden showpiece against Inverness Caledonian Thistle was moved from its established 3pm slot to avoid a clash with the FA Cup final between Manchester United and Manchester City.
The June 3 fixture will now kick-off at 5.30pm, which drew anger from both sets of supporters and the clubs themselves.
And while Postecoglou says the change does not affect his team, for supporters’ sake the Celtic manager would have preferred to stick with the norm.
“I guess it doesn’t make a difference because we are still going to play the game, just at a different time.” Postecoglou said. “I dont know, the Scottish Cup is one of those prestigious competitions, it ends the season at a certain date, at a certain time. I’m a traditionalist in a lot of those things, I love them because the provide historical context for why it is is played on the last day and at that time.
“I’m not too involved in the logistics for supporters, but for the Inverness supporters it is more of a challenge. I would have loved to have had it as it was; I don’t like these things being messed about.
“But at the end of the day, that is the decision, and we just have to get on it and make sure we play our football.”
