During Brendan Rodgers’ first spell as Celtic manager, he walked the league with ease and pure style as Rangers simply had no hope.
But this second spell is proving to be far more difficult and that became a reality when Rangers moved to the top of the table on Sunday.
After the dropped points against Kilmarnock, Chris Sutton was pretty scathing of the Celtic manager and how he needs to take responsibility.
That topic was discussed once again, this time on BBC Radio 5 Live Sport with his co-host Robbie Savage, who questioned and criticised his colleague over his ‘harsh’ comments.
But Chris Sutton was quick to squash any nonsense coming from the former Wales midfielder as he reiterated his comments on Brendan Rodgers.
Not only that, he made sure Robbie Savage understood the pressures of playing for a club like Celtic and how finishing second is like coming ‘last’.
On paper, for most sides across Europe, not losing a game since December 16 is seen as a positive and the fans are on board.
But as Chris Sutton tried to put forward to the quiet uneducated Robbie Savage, ‘you don’t understand Scottish football’, as he further expressed the issues at Parkhead.
Sutton then asked: “What is remarkable?!” To which Savage responded: “You questioning Brendan Rodgers. He hasn’t improved one player you said, harsh, isn’t it?!”
Sutton then added: “Have you seen Celtic play this season? I don’t think it’s harsh. It has been a disappointing season, but still retrievable. Can you do it Celtic?”
Savage then claimed: “You changed your opinion on Celtic very quickly. You were all over them last year and now you can’t wait to put the boot in. I have heard on the TV ‘Brendan Rodgers has to take responsibility’. You did, pathetic. Bang average you said. They were top of the league until Rangers won.”
Sutton responded: “It’s expectation. Basically, Celtic this season have been really inconsistent, in terms of their performance levels. The Champions League, miles off it. There is a lot of unhappiness amongst the fanbase about Celtic not spending their huge amount of money and not bringing lots of players in. My point was Brendan Rodgers should be doing better domestically than he is, at this moment in time with the players he has available.”
Savage then interrupted: “But they were top of the league until Rangers won,” before Sutton told him: “They have been papering over the cracks with their performances. You don’t quite understand Scottish football. Second is last. You can’t be behind in Glasgow.”
It’s as simple as that. If he doesn’t, then he is going to be very lucky to still be in a job beyond the summer.
Yes, there might be some who decide to point the finger or push the noise towards the Celtic board, they have already felt the wrath of the fans this season.
But a number of these players only just won the Treble last season, so many will be asking why the sea change in performances?!
But, until any of that can happen, there is still a lot of football to be played, including the meetings against Rangers.
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