Chris Sutton is in the camp that believes returning Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers won't get off to a faltering start in the Scottish Premiership.
The Northern Irishman is set to return to Celtic Park after a four-year hiatus, where after a two-and-a-half-year spell in which his side won every domestic trophy possible under his guidance, they will be looking to do the same once again. Rangers have improved slightly since he left; a Scottish Premiership trophy and a Europa League runners-up medal go to prove that the Light Blues can somewhat keep the distance when the heat is on.
But having struggled to break Ange Postecoglou's stronghold in the last two years, it's a testing challenge for Rodgers that former Celtic man and Premier League winner Chris Sutton believes that he can take in his stride - despite a less than favourable campaign with Leicester City last season.
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He told the Daily Record: "Brendan Rodgers seems to be savouring lunchtimes with the lads.
"But I wouldn’t be making a meal out of it. It doesn’t really matter how you approach it. So long as you scoop up all the gravy when it comes to the trophies. I was interested to read the comments this week from Matt O’Riley about a freshness and openness now around the camp at Lennoxtown.
"The midfielder was talking about how Rodgers was happy to blend in with the squad during meal times and shoot the breeze. O’Riley suggested it was a change in environment which seemed to hint at the fact that didn’t happen under Ange Postecoglou. There was always this underlying suggestion the Aussie wasn’t really one for mixing with the group on a day-to-day basis. John Kennedy’s interview during the week said as much when he commented on how Rodgers’ approach involved “being around people more socially.
"Leadership comes in many forms. Being in charge must be a tough business and there is no right or wrong way to go about it. Clearly, Rodgers prefers a more personal approach around the squad than Postecoglou. It was always something that was discussed during his first spell at the club. That he would be close with the players and speak to them about a variety of things.
"I’ve no issue with that. It works for him. He must know just where the line is to be drawn between him and the group. It’s obviously not a problem to him because he’s been at enough high-profile clubs and done such good work that he knows what he is doing. You don’t have the success and the CV Rodgers has if you don’t have an expert way of dealing with your players and knowing exactly when to be their pal and when to give them a metaphorical kick up the tail.
"Postecoglou certainly didn’t leave any unwashed dishes when it came to collecting silverware. He polished off the rest of Scottish football and you’d imagine his hunger wouldn’t have waned had he stayed. In the end, an appetite for the fancy restaurant in the Premier League and a seat at a top table in north London proved too big a lure.
"Rodgers has been there. He’s now back in the building with his own opportunity to scoff Scottish football again while also lapping up the continental dessert at the Champions League table. It doesn’t matter if your manager is passing the salt across the table or eating in his office. So long as Celtic keep chewing up the opposition and spitting them out in the manner they have been doing, fans aren’t concerned about table manners."
