How many times must we say it? Brendan Rodgers is the master of the pre-match press conference. He rules that realm like a medieval lord presiding over his court. The media is forever being surprised by Rodgers’ sharpness, his aggression, and the way he defends this club. His skill in this area is phenomenal.
There have been times, you know, when I’ve complained that the most visible person at our club is the manager. I don’t say this because I’m displeased with Rodgers or how he handles things, but because I don’t believe everything should necessarily flow through him. Then, a day like the other day comes along, and my heart swells with pride. On those occasions, I’m reminded why Rodgers is the public face of Celtic—because I genuinely can’t imagine anyone doing it better.
Friday was a masterclass. When you watch how the guy across the city carries himself and compare it to Rodgers, it’s clear who the superior manager is—even before considering their respective records and the trophy hauls. Rodgers’ intelligence, calmness, and assuredness are second to none.
But where Rodgers truly excels is as an ambassador, a warrior, and a spokesman for Celtic—its fans, its culture, and its history. He was at his very best yesterday when he slapped back at Philippe Clement’s comments last week about how far ahead Celtic are financially.
Clement’s remarks were an acknowledgment of reality, and I don’t think the press should be too harsh on him for that. But his words irked Rodgers—and rightly so. Clement’s comments, intentionally or not, carry undertones that seek to diminish our success by implying it’s solely about money.
Rodgers wasn’t having it.
Rodgers articulated the truth: Celtic’s money comes from our success; our success doesn’t stem from money. This isn’t a chicken-and-egg scenario—it’s straightforward. Success came first, and from that success, we built our fortune. We didn’t use the fortune to build the success. The victories enabled us to spend. This distinction matters. While some clubs attempt to spend their way to trophies, our trophies allowed us to invest in sustainable growth. It’s no wonder some people struggle to grasp or accept this concept.
It’s especially good to hear him direct those comments at Ibrox, the home of financial doping, the club which has been built on it from the bones of a club killed by it.
Rodgers put it perfectly:
“Philippe will have whatever he feels he needs to look at,” he said. “I am only really interested in Celtic. This is a club that has been organically grown. We haven’t been handed money. It isn’t like we’ve had something come in from the Middle East and given us a load of money.
“This is something that has been grown. The work done by the leadership from the very top of the club right to the bottom is the reason why we have had the success we have had. That has helped us grow, develop, and win. And when you win, that brings more success. So, for us, that is all we are interested in. The club is in a brilliant position, but it has all been earned.”
It has all been earned.
Those words are crucial.
Rodgers wasn’t just talking about the past or our present; he was sending a message about the future. His words were a warning against quick-fix solutions and shortcuts—the kind of financial risks others take, hoping for immediate results.
Rodgers was clear: that’s not who Celtic are, and it’s not who we’ll ever be.
Whenever I visit Celtic Park, I take a moment to look at that brick building out front, those statues in the car park, and the magnificent stadium that rises around them. And I remind myself that we built that. We built it. The fans built it. We didn’t rely on a sugar-daddy owner. We weren’t propped up by a bank’s generosity or the wealth of an oil state. Everything Celtic has today came from us.
When people attack Celtic for being the best team in this country—as though we should be ashamed of it—I want to remind them it wasn’t always like this. We didn’t need anyone to throw money at us to make it happen. Fergus McCann turned to the fans for help, and we answered. Fergus may have paid off the debts and stabilised the club, but everything else? That was us.
This is why I’ll never accept the narrative that we should feel guilty about our success. It was all earned.
I love Brendan Rodgers when he’s in this mode—fighting the club’s corner, banging the drum on our behalf. I love when he acts as an ambassador, a leader, and a spokesman. Friday was one of his finest hours.
Not just a rousing defence of Celtic’s achievements, but a reminder that it was all built on hard work, patience, and the unwavering support of the fans. At a time when it seems every other club is looking for a magic bullet or an easy way out, it’s satisfying to know that Celtic’s success comes from doing things the right way.
And on a day when we’re poised to overtake the Survival Lie, there’s a special satisfaction in knowing that’s how we got here.
