Former Celtic manager Martin O’Neill believes winning games will soon win over fans who are sceptical about the return of Brendan Rodgers.
An influential group of supporters, the North Curve Celtic, quickly posted an old photograph of a banner declaring the manager a “fraud” over his professed love for the club, in the wake of his appointment as manager for a second time.
Rodgers won seven trophies in a row first time round but his sudden exit for Leicester in February 2019 still stings some supporters.
“Not every single Celtic fan will be happy with it initially after the way he left the club,” O’Neill told BBC Scotland.
“But he was very successful, which is great. When you start to win a few football matches, you’re back in the rhythm again and everything’s going fine.
“Ange Postecoglou did a really fantastic job with the team and everything seems to be in good hands.
“Rodgers knows the club inside out and will still be working with some of the players that he left. If he wins some matches then everything else will fall into place.”
Former Hoops striker and pundit Chris Sutton believes it is crucial that supporters put aside their negativity towards Rodgers.
“Good luck to Brendan Rodgers going back to Celtic,” he wrote on Twitter. “He left previously under a cloud but no doubting his ability as a coach and his record last time round was phenomenal.
“It’s important regardless of how Celtic fans felt with his previous departure that everyone gets behind him.”
Former Celtic midfielder and coach Peter Grant believes the Northern Irishman can handle the added pressure that the scepticism will bring
“The way Brendan left – that’s what gets the Celtic supporters,” Grant told BBC Scotland. “It’s not down to his talent or quality of the manager.
“Outside of Manchester United, the pressure and expectation at Celtic is massive. It’s constant, it’s 24/7. Everybody is looking at what you are doing. If you have a draw, it’s a horrendous result.
“Brendan knows the expectation. He came through it saying he was a Celtic supporter. He’s had the criticism he received when he left. He’s had all that to deal with and it takes a strong personality to come back and come under that pressure again.
“There will be the extra pressure of supporters. I’m sure he can handle it and great credit to him for wanting him to come back and do it.”
Former Celtic full-back Mark Wilson believes Rodgers has no reason to apologise to supporters for the manner of his departure.
Wilson told Sky Sports News: “I genuinely think some fans want him to come out and say sorry and apologise. I don’t think that’s ever going to be the case and I don’t think he has anything to apologise for. He was a manager who wanted to progress his career in the richest league in the world.
“But I think they will want to hear assurances that he is here for the long term. I know things can change quickly in football, but they will want to hear that he’s got a plan to take this club forward in Europe and spend some time doing it, not just jump ship at the first opportunity.
“I think this time if an opportunity were to come up pretty quickly, he would turn it down, because I think he realises what a special club this is.”
Former Bhoys midfielder and assistant manager John Collins feels the suitability of Rodgers outweighs feelings over his departure.
“I was disappointed with how he left but the reality is you’ve got to look at what he did when he was at Celtic,” Collins told BBC Scotland.
“He was an outstanding manager and he delivered entertaining football and trophies.
“The supporters want the same thing and there’s not too many managers out there on the market that are ready-made for Celtic. It’ll be a seamless transition and he knows the club.”
Trip of a Lifetime! JustBet to take lucky football fan to London for UCL Finals 2024
Pepetho Barrett, a devoted Real Madrid fan, is walking on air after winning an all-expenses-paid trip for two to the UEFA Champions League final between Dortmund and Real Madrid at the iconic Wembley Stadium in London courtesy of JustBet and SportsMax.
Overflowing with excitement, Barrett exclaimed, "I am still in shock. It's a dream come true to watch my team live. I'm so grateful to JustBet for providing me with an opportunity that seemed out of reach," he added. “Winning this trip is amazing and knowing that I get to watch my team, Real Madrid live, makes it a trip of a lifetime!”
JustBet, Jamaica's premier sports betting and entertainment brand presented Barrett with a symbolic boarding pass at Sabina Park during the hotly contested Jamaica Premier League semi-finals on Sunday, May 12, 2024.
In addition to the main prize, Anthony Belcher secured the third-place prize, claiming a brand new Apple iPhone 15 Prom Max. Steven Lindsay emerged as the second-place winner, walking away with a cutting-edge entertainment system complete with a TV, PS5, and soundbar.
“Sports betting is our fastest growing segment at Supreme Ventures and so it made sense for us to enhance our customers betting experience by partnering with Sportsmax to offer a chance to win a once-in- a-lifetime experience at the UCL Finals,” remarked, Kamal Powell, Head of Marketing at Supreme Ventures Limited. “There’s much more in store for us here at JustBet so we encourage our players to join the action and don’t miss an opportunity to feel the thrill of winning.”
The highly anticipated match that represents the pinnacle of club football is set for June 1.
Cavalier’s 'Busy' Atkinson takes aim at second Jamaica Premier League title: "It would mean a lot to me and my teammates..."
Dwayne ‘Busy’ Atkinson scored his sixth and arguably most crucial goal of the Wray & Nephew Jamaica Premier League season when he netted the opening goal for Cavalier FC against Arnett Gardens FC in their return leg semi-final at Sabina Park on Sunday.
With the tie delicately poised at 1-1 after the first leg, it was evident that in a match defined by fine margins, the first goal in the return leg would be pivotal.
The match was only 15 minutes old when Atkinson converted from the penalty spot to put the ball in the back of the net, giving Cavalier a 1-0 lead on the day and a 2-1 advantage on aggregate.
A stunning strike by Adrian Reid in the sixth minute of added time at the end of the first half then provided last season’s runners-up with a perfect 2-0 cushion heading into halftime. Keith Simpson's stoppage-time goal in the 94th minute was only a consolation for Waterhouse, as the game concluded 3-2 on aggregate in favor of Cavalier.
Atkinson was just 19 years old when he clinched the title with Cavalier in 2021. Having gained valuable experience overseas playing in Iceland last year, he hopes that the lessons learned in Europe will prove beneficial when they face Mount Pleasant FA in the final for a second consecutive season.
The designated penalty taker for Cavalier revealed that he was confident when he stepped up to take the spot-kick against Arnett Gardens goalkeeper Eric Edwards.
He also emphasized the importance of scoring first for Cavalier to quieten the vocal Arnett Gardens fan base.
“It was really important for us to take the lead against a team like Arnett, who have such a large fan base,” he noted.
While expressing confidence ahead of Sunday’s showdown against the reigning champions, Atkinson remained mindful of the threat they pose.
“I am very confident of victory, but Mount Pleasant is a very good team, so I need to put in a lot of work with the boys and stay focused for this one,” said the diminutive winger.
Last year’s painful defeat in the final has been a driving force for Cavalier all season, especially for Atkinson and his teammate Richard King, who were both playing for Vestmannaeyjar FC in Iceland at this time last year.
They both missed the final and are thrilled to have the opportunity to rectify last year’s disappointment.
Atkinson admitted that it was agonizing to watch from afar and not be able to assist his team, but he is now ready to claim his second premier league title come Sunday.
“I have no words to describe how I felt last year, not being able to help my teammates, but I was playing for another team in another league at that time. This season, we have worked hard and have been dedicated to achieving our championship goals.”
“It would mean a lot to me and my teammates to win this season because, as you can see, there is a lot of talk going around that Cavalier only won the JPL during ‘corona time,’ so winning this one would be fantastic,” he explained.
Surprisingly, Atkinson says he would have preferred to play the final at Sabina Park.
“I would have preferred to play the final at Sabina Park instead of the National Stadium because it has a better pitch than the stadium.”
The 22-year-old is gearing up to put on a show in the final with hopes of securing another overseas contract at the end of it all.
“I believe that an outstanding performance in the final could help me secure another overseas contract, so I want to deliver for my team,” he acknowledged.
Cavalier and Mount Pleasant will battle it out in the Wray & Nephew Jamaica Premier League finals at the National Stadium on Sunday, May 19, starting at 6:30 pm.
NB: The Jamaica Premier League final will be aired live on Sportsmax.
Getafe 0-3 Atletico Madrid: Griezmann treble seals Champions League qualification
Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 LaLiga win at Getafe on Wednesday as Diego Simeone's side sealed Champions League qualification.
The France star opened the scoring in the 27th minute from Rodrigo De Paul's throughball and had his second shortly before half-time, flicking Samuel Lino's pinpoint pass past Getafe goalkeeper David Soria.
Griezmann completed his hat-trick in the 51st minute with a fine finish under Soria's legs, with Lino claiming his second assist by playing Los Colchoneros' all-time leading scorer into the area.
It was Griezmann's second hat-trick of the season, after he also netted three times in a 3-0 win at Celta Vigo last October.
With two games remaining, Simeone's side are now on 73 points in fourth, 11 ahead of fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao, who lost 2-1 against Celta Vigo on Wednesday.
Data Debrief: Griezmann repeats the trick
Griezmann is the only player to score two hat-tricks in LaLiga this season, and the only player to net a treble with all three goals coming on his left foot.
He might need to go even further to put himself in Golden Boot contention, though, with his 16 goals for this term putting him behind Artem Dovbyk (20), Jude Bellingham, Alexander Sorloth (both 19) and Robert Lewandowski (17).
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