Brendan Rodgers demands Celtic Champions League inquest

Celtic were left red-faced after losing on penalties to Kazakh minnows Kairat in their Champions League play-off

Brendan Rodgers shares plenty with those who came before him.

Much like Ange Postecoglou and Neil Lennon, the Celtic manager has dominated Scottish football.

However, when it comes to securing transfers and making that crucial European breakthrough, Rodgers appears to be stuck in a repetitive cycle.

It’s become a well-worn story at Parkhead over the years as the club’s risky approach of leaving deals until the last minute backfires spectacularly.

Tuesday’s Champions League elimination has clearly left its mark, reports the Daily Record.

Rodgers recognises it represented a squandered chance for the Hoops to compete with Europe’s finest for a fourth consecutive season.

There will undoubtedly be a rush of new arrivals in the window’s closing days, but Rodgers acknowledges the moment has passed.

That’s his burning frustration – and precisely why he’s calling for an investigation into why identical errors keep occurring.

He said: “Listen, probably if you looked at what Ange said or what Neil Lennon said it would be around about the same.

“It’s a trend, we need to understand that.

“We certainly need to understand that from a football context, because you want to be as well-equipped as you possibly can.

“It’s not about investment, because this club will invest. The club’s super well run, the investment is there.

“But we need to look at the timing of the investment. And does that go back to recruitment? Does it go back to identification? All these different facets.

“What I do know is we have to be better in it, because this is a period of time. So it’s not about investment; the club will invest.

“We’ll see over the next few days. I’m pretty sure we’ll invest.

“But we want to get the timing of investment important, just to give us every single chance to be the best version of Celtic that we can be.”

The likelihood of Rodgers remaining here this time next year looks extremely doubtful following another turbulent transfer window.

However, should he choose to extend his contract, he anticipates seeing alterations.

He said: “Well, we have to discuss that. We have to look at that. I’d be very hopeful.

“We’ve got a major owner in Dermot Desmond who’s a super intelligent guy. We’ve got a board of directors who bleed for the club.

“They want the club to do well. So everyone here is connected. I hear all this talk about total disconnection. It’s not what I see and I hear, it couldn’t be further from the truth.

“Every single guy here – me, the board, Dermot – we love Celtic and want Celtic to be the very, very best.

“There’s a business model that you see works so well. I want to try and ensure the football model works equally as well.

“So it’s fluent and agile and we keep ahead of the game. So when we lose players we’re not in this cycle of waiting, waiting, waiting, standing still and then missing out on the competitions that we want to be in.

“So that’s the idea. Hopefully over the coming months we can do that.”

As a Celtic supporter himself, Rodgers feels the burden of expectation upon him to ensure the club reaches its full capabilities.

That’s precisely why their Champions League embarrassment against Kazakh underdogs has wounded him so deeply.

He said: “The other night, I walked around to see the supporters before the game.

“I don’t normally do that because I’m normally inside. But I’ve seen a 77-year-old guy stood on the side of the stands the other day, looking in, ready to watch the game.

“I’m looking at him and thinking, ‘Christ, this poor guy has travelled a long way, he’s probably had loads of connections to get to the game’.

“It’s our duty to make sure that he and all our supporters are seeing the best possible team.

“I know that better than anyone. That’s my job, to try and make sure that we can, in the future, be better equipped to get the best possible team on the pitch.

“Like I say, Dermot wants that, the board will want that. We have to find a way to make it happen.

“It’s absolutely okay saying what it is you want to do, but you’ve got to action it, you’ve got to make it happen.”

Such is the reality in Glasgow, there’s no opportunity for Celtic to sulk and wallow in self-pity.

The title holders can win supporters back by extending their advantage over Rangers to NINE points at Ibrox tomorrow.

That would pile additional pressure on Russell Martin – who has suffered a catastrophic beginning to his tenure in Govan. Rodgers commented: “Listen, Russell knows the landscape. He’s played at Rangers before and he’s come in and it’s always a challenge.

“You come in as a young manager, you go into a big club. He’s had good success at MK Dons when he was there.

“I still follow Swansea, so I know he’s done a really good job there. He went and got Southampton promoted and, obviously, the Premier League is a big challenge for any club.

“Then you come to Rangers, which is a big club. You’re trying to impose your style, your way of walking, whilst trying to change the culture, so it always takes a wee bit of time.

“I’m pretty sure he’ll do really well, but in the meantime, you always have to get through the sticky bits of your season and sometimes those can be at the beginning and hopefully, over time, can make it better.

“But what do I expect? I expect it’s always a tough game when you play against Rangers.”