Brendan Rodgers is not averse to mentioning a few names when the opportunity arises. Only this time it might as well have opened an almighty Pandora’s box.
If the build-up to Rangers’ excellent Europa League win in Malmo last Thursday was dominated by old feuds and unpleasant memories, Celtic’s upcoming trip to Borussia Dortmund now has the potential to ruin it.
Parkhead boss Rodgers spoke on Friday about the conversations he had with his former captain Scott Brown during the week when the opportunity arose for the former Scotland midfielder to move from the coaching role at Ayr United to St Johnstone.
Asked if he thinks he could face Brown on the opposite bench in a Premiership match in the future, despite his former charge’s decision to stay at Somerset Park for now, Rodgers replied: “If I’m still here and I want him, then he may as well do it. I’ll face Nuri Sahin on Tuesday and I had Nuri at Liverpool when he was a young player on loan from Real Madrid, that’s how it happens.’
But that is only the beginning of the story of the relationship that existed between the Celtic coach and the Borussia Dortmund coach, with whom he will meet in a couple of days in the middle of the yellow thunder of the Westfalenstadion.
Already, in some corners of the internet, Sahin’s comments about Brodge ending his loan spell at Anfield after five months in January 2013 to return to Dortmund for a second spell as a player have begun to appear.
Rodgers and Sahin worked together at Liverpool more than a decade ago
The Northern Irishman signed Sahin on loan from Real Madrid but cut the loan short
“Thank God I’ve left Brendan Rodgers,” he said in a famous interview with a Spanish newspaper, complaining about having been used in the totally wrong position throughout his time on Merseyside.
What’s more, it is absolutely certain that it will be revisited in the coming days as preparations for an attractive and interesting clash in Europe’s premier club tournament gather pace. And added spices.
In fact, Sahin was lined up to go to Arsenal from the Bernabéu back in the day, while Madrid sought to find him a place to play more regular football. Then, at the age of 23, he had his heart set on succeeding in the Emirates.
That was the moment when Rodgers used his charm and leafed through the contact book, as he recalled at the time of Sahin’s signing when detailing the conversations he had about the move with Real’s then coach, José Mourinho.
“All my contacts spoke very highly of him and José has been fantastic in talking about his qualities and strengths, but obviously he (Sahin) hasn’t played much there,” he said. ‘It is a great opportunity for us to incorporate a top-level technician.
“The player had his mind set on going to Arsenal and we had to convince him to join us. As soon as we realized he might be available, our task was to change the direction of the deal that was being carried out and snatch him away. the boost to Arsenal.
“It was very difficult, because Arsenal is a wonderful club, they can offer Champions League football and they play a style of football suited to their qualities. But we were able to convince him to come here.
“He is an intelligent guy, he has done a lot of homework on the club and on me as a coach, and he has made the decision that this is the best path at this stage of his career.”
However, he clearly didn’t do enough homework. After just 12 games and three goals, and just three full 90-minute appearances in the Europa League, Sahin returned to Dortmund via a brief stopover in Madrid with some pretty strong comments to make.
“I didn’t fail at Liverpool,” said Sahin, who would eventually rejoin Dortmund permanently in a €7m deal. “Brendan Rodgers wanted me to play as a number 10, but I don’t play behind the forwards.
Celtic are well ahead of their second Champions League matchday after a 5-1 win over Slovan Bratislava.
“I spoke to him and asked him why he was playing with me there. It’s not my real position.
‘The coach couldn’t answer me. Still, I have no regrets. Maybe if I hadn’t gone there I wouldn’t have been able to return to Borussia Dortmund. That’s why I’m happy. Thank God I’ve left Brendan Rodgers.’
Even BVB manager Jurgen Klopp, who replaced Rodgers at Liverpool following his sacking in October 2015, was drawn into the fray.
“It was the wrong position (for Sahin to play),” he said. “If you are an 8 or a 6 and you have to play like a 9 or a 10, it is not possible.
“For some guys, of course, it’s possible, but Nuri is a brilliant player, not a nine-and-a-half or a ten, and I don’t know why Brendan Rodgers would do this.”
From a pound to a penny, you will be asked at some point over the next 48 hours. Like Sahin. And from such interactions, the funniest little vignettes are made while we all wait for the appropriate action to begin in the park.
Just look at how Malmö coach Henrik Rydstrom ended up with egg in his ribs in midweek after rating his club’s social media posts mocking Rangers’ financial crisis after they won a qualifying match for the Champions League at Ibrox in 2011 as “a bit of fun”. ‘.
Last year’s runners-up Dortmund will be a tougher test for Celtic in the Champions League
Celtic’s impressive 5-1 opening day victory over Slovan Bratislava has put them in an excellent position to break into the top 24 of the new, slightly silly Champions League set-up and reach the play-off round. off.
This visit to Dortmund will not make or break that ambition. The games against Young Boys Bern and Dinamo Zagreb, in addition to the visits of Club Brugge and RB Leipzig are the games that matter in this campaign.
However, that doesn’t mean that Rodgers doesn’t have a lot to look forward to in Tuesday’s game. Yes, his team competed very well at home with teams like Atlético de Madrid and Lazio in this competition last season. However, away from home it was a different story.
They sent six to Atlético and lost two goals without return at both Lazio and Feyenoord. They still finished at the end of the section.
Rodgers is back here for Europe. Don’t hesitate to do it. He himself admitted it when starting his second stage as Celtic manager. It is important to show that you can take a team to a difficult place against stronger opposition and keep it organized and difficult to beat. And Dortmund’s intimidating stadium provides the perfect showcase.
Rodgers recognizes that there will be the toughest tests in history from that first day
Celtic are not expected to win. They are not even expected to take a point. But Rodgers could do without a trailer, given problems on the road last season and the fact that his first tenure at Parkhead suffered major collapses when facing the likes of Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Zenit St. Petersburg. Signs of progression are needed rather than the same thin mush.
Until then, we’ll have to settle for wondering if the man he faces will have additional motivation to settle old scores. We’ll hear them talk about what they make of each other all these years. And we’ll wait to see how warm (or not) their hug on the touchline before kickoff really is.
Because bad blood and old ghosts are a big part of what football is. As is making mischief and seeing what is really hidden behind the clichés. And long may that continue.
U-turn on alcohol sales is a bit of fuss about nothing
The Scottish National Party needs something to regain favor after the chaos, carnage and camper vans of recent times, and putting alcohol on sale inside football grounds seems a sure bet to win votes.
It’s unclear how this squares with the government fools raising alcohol to a ridiculous 65p a pop tomorrow, when this crazy plan appears to have no positive effect on public health.
However, SNP MSP George Adam has been slow to call for the party’s pint issue to be reconsidered.
In truth, the whole debate over selling old ground electric soup is a bit baffling. Many stadiums already seem to have pubs and bars. In
Football fans have not been allowed to consume alcohol inside stadiums for more than 40 years, in stark contrast to their rugby counterparts.
In St Johnstone, for example, we journalists pass one on our way out of the ground, usually after seeing the sort of display that would drive anyone to drink.
And most grounds that don’t have their own taps and opticians have bars nearby that will be happy to let you fill your boots before kick-off.
Staying well pickled during game day is no problem as is. This argument seems to depend on whether or not the
90 minutes in between as time to sober up or a chance to fill up the tank.
Considering that it’s hard enough to stay awake at some SPFL games, treating the punter like an adult and allowing him to keep the joy going with a judicious tincture, as well as putting extra money into his club’s coffers, seems like a no-no – headache.
And it’s really not a big jump.
Moss gathers little goodwill upon departure
Why couldn’t Jon Moss have just walked off to his new job and new life in Australia without posting that condescending rubbish about his 52 days as VAR manager on the Scottish FA website?
That he enjoyed his stay at Hampden was bad enough, but his statement that “I leave with only good memories and a wish that I could have stayed longer” is insulting.
Nobody’s taking it to the other side of the world, right? He could have stayed if he liked. But he didn’t do it. And he has done unnecessary damage to Willie Collum’s time as head of refereeing after such a bright and promising start.
The SFA found a firecracker in this guy. Next time, they should make sure they get someone who is actually committed to sticking around instead of writing crap on their website.