Brendan Rodgers has admitted that the demands of managing Celtic are greater than anything he has faced in his managerial career—calling it “the biggest pressure job” he’s ever had.
And he’s been a Steven Gerrard slip away from winning the Premier League title with Liverpool.
The 52-year-old, who guided the club to another Premiership title this season, spoke about the weight of expectation at Celtic Park and the relentless scrutiny that comes with the role. For Rodgers, even victory isn’t always enough to satisfy the support.
Rodgers, who has now delivered 11 major honours in his two spells in charge, says he thrives on the constant pressure and the high standards demanded by the Celtic fanbase.
“This is the biggest pressure job I’ve been in, and that’s because you cannot afford to lose a game of football,” the manager told CeltsAreHere.
“So, you imagine any team that’s out there, they’ll get a pass for a draw, they’ll get a pass for a win. Sometimes we don’t even get a pass for a win. We can win and get booed off.
“So, that’s the relentless nature of it, and that’s what I love about the job. The expectation, the support base, is to always be better, to always improve and that drives you forward. So, you know you can never just rest on your laurels here at Celtic.
“So, that means that every single day of your life, you have to be on it. You have to be really focused, you have to be prepared, you know that the other team you’re playing against are going to give that extra 10-15% physically, mentally, because every time you operate as a Celtic player and manager, you’re managing a final scenario. So, that is there in virtually every game.
“So, to prepare the team, to prepare the trainings and the practice and the schedule and everything else that goes with that, to deal with that pressure, to leave you in the best possible position when you play your game, then it’s not straightforward.”
As Celtic chase down another domestic Treble with the Scottish Cup Final to come, Rodgers’ comments offer a sharp insight into the standards he sets—and the drive behind the club’s sustained success.
The players did have a few off games in recent matchdays, but Rodgers was keen to stress that it was unacceptable, and ensured that the players weren’t taking their foot off the gas. After their loss to St Johnstone, the players have responded well, winning 5-1 against Kilmarnock, then 5-0 against St Johnstone in the Cup and Dundee United to win the league.