Brendan Rodgers admitted his return to Celtic Park felt like coming home – but insists he’s ready to 'prove' himself all over again.
Celtic triumphed 3-2 over Athletic Club on an evening of tributes for James Forrest’s testimonial, currently the joint third most decorated player in the club’s history. He was given a rapturous reception by a considerable Celtic Park crowd of 43,447, who also rose as one to applaud Rodgers on his first Parkhead outing since returning as manager. So, as well as being made up for Forrest, he confessed that being greeted with such warmth was an emotional moment for him.
“Overall I was really pleased for James,” said Rodgers. “To win the game is nice for him on his testimonial game. The second half team was excellent.
“Amazing, it feels like home. I’ve been fortunate enough in my career to manage some fantastic, big clubs. There’s nothing given me the feeling of being back here with people I regard as family, and just being in the arena here.
“I’m looking forward to it, I guess I want to relish every second of it. Going away made me realise what I had, I was never sure if I would have that again. So, to be able to have it again I want to enjoy it on the pitch with the players, the staff and obviously the supporters. But for that I need to prove myself and win again.”
“Clearly it always means a lot [to get a good reception]. My priority is to make a team here to continue with the standards that have been set over the last decade or so. It’s important that we are all together in order to achieve that. The Celtic supporters are amazing. They support their team and I think what makes this team is that they get behind their manager and we all go together from the weekend to push on. It is very important for us to be together.
“I think we have built it up really well. The players didn’t have a long break but they have come back and we have worked our way through. We’ve put a lot of hard work into them. At times they’ve maybe looked a little bit leggy but that’s because it’s pre-season and it’s preparation but as it’s gone on they’ve looked sharper and brighter. Come Saturday, when it matters, we will be ready for sure.”
With their Premiership title defence kicking off at home to Ross County on Saturday, Rodgers welcomed Cameron Carter-Vickers into his team for the first time since the centre-back’s knee surgery. Anthony Ralston was also back in the fold having missed every other pre-season outing to date. But he’s unsure whether either player will be ready to start at the weekend.
“We will see. We have to analyse that over the next couple of days but it was great to have him back. He is a very important player for us. He got through the 45 minutes. Tony Ralston as well, coming back, it was great to have Tony on the pitch as well.”
