Brendan Rodgers has promised angry Celtic fans that he plans to see out his contract with the Scottish Premiership side. The former Liverpool boss has returned to Parkhead to fury from a section of supporters after he ditched the club to join Leicester in 2019.
Rodgers has returned to the club on a three-year deal and has pledged to be in the job for the long haul. He left under acrimonious circumstances in February 2019, with the club on the verge of winning a 10th consecutive league title.
Some supporters have not welcomed the 50-year-old’s reappointment, replacing the popular former head coach Ange Postecoglou. But asked if he is looking forward to returning to Scotland, Rodgers said: “Yes, battling with the media! Scotland gave us a lot of happiness off the pitch and I have a lot of respect for the city and the country.
“Even though the last moments were tough, it didn’t change for us the good moments that we had so I’m delighted to be here from a professional and family perspective.
“I’ve signed for three years and I guarantee I’ll be here for three years unless I get emptied before that!”
Influential Celtic fan group Green Brigade reshared an image of an old banner displayed in the wake of Rodgers’ departure four years ago. The words read: “You traded immortality for mediocrity. Never a Celt, always a fraud.”
However, other supporters have welcomed Rodgers’ return and accepted that he was the best candidate. Celtic lost former boss Postecoglou to Tottenham earlier this month.
Pressed on fans’ fury, Rodgers added: “I would understand what fans would feel. Even when I was doing well I would have had critics. But it was an emotional time, the club was going for 10-in-a-row.
“I never get too emotional with words. The pressure is greater because of what we did the first time around but I relish that. Hopefully I can prove to those who don’t want me here and shift their opinion. I hope I can still have that relationship with the fanbase.
“It was a sad moment when I left. I don’t regret it but I regret the hurt it caused people. I understood what it meant. That was my regret – that I hurt people who were Celtic supporters.”
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