When Celtic gets this title over the line this season, it will be one of the sweetest ones in recent times in my opinion.
Brendan Rodgers has had to overcome many obstacles to get his team to this point and whilst it has been a bumpy ride, Celtic are on the cusp of yet another Scottish Premiership title.
And whilst players like Matt O’Riley, Callum McGregor, Joe Hart and Kyogo Furuhashi will all receive the plaudits from the fans and pundits, Mark Wilson believes there is one that deserves enormous credit for getting this title over the line.
The former Celtic defender earlier said that the reason Celtic are so dominant in the Glasgow Derby fixture is because the Parkhead side are stronger mentality. And, for me, that is down to one man.
Rodgers branded a ‘top’ Celtic manager
Brendan Rodgers returned to Celtic with a blaze of publicity and amid a split in the Celtic fanbase. And Wilson lists the number of issues the Hoops boss has successfully dealt with which convinces him the Irishman’s part in this title win is getting overlooked.
Wilson said [Sky Sports], “Now obviously different managers have come in and built different systems, different structures within there, but when Brendan Rodgers came he had to manage that dressing room again.
“And I think that’s where he doesn’t get a lot of credit.
“When you think at the start of the season where, Reo Hatate, there were reports he was unhappy and maybe wanted to leave and he was out of the team.
“David Turnbull was in the midfield, he has to manage his expectations.
“Matt O’Riley, perhaps going to Atletico Madrid, maybe the disappointment that he didn’t go and you saw that in his performance, but he has to get the best out of him.
“And he has to manage the full squad and I think he’s done that very, very well. James Forrest is not even seen throughout the season, but he gets the best out of him and he stepped up when it really matters in the last five or six games.
“And that’s a top, top manager and he’s managed to do that with a full squad and particularly at the right time.”
Rodgers’ man management has always been one of his strengths and how he’s dealt with the players over this season has been excellent.
Matt O’Riley has often credited the Irishman for the improvements he has made in his game this season and the multitude of awards he won this week is a testament to that.
With Celtic heading straight into the Champions League group stages next season, Rodgers will need to call on all his experience to help guide these players and motivate them against some of the best footballing sides on the continent.