Brendan Rodgers’ Thursday comments about the size of Celtic and how well they’d do in the English Premier League seem to have stirred up some media personalities down south.
The concept of Celtic playing down south has been discussed and debated for decades. There seems to be a fascination from those in the English media particularly about what it’d be like to see the Bhoys take on the elite of the Premier League.
Rodgers made an appearance on talkSPORT yesterday to discuss the Bhoys’ season and the upcoming Scottish Cup final against Rangers. Inevitably the Premier League subject reared its head again.
The Bhoys boss said: “There’s no doubt, if Celtic was in the Premier League, it would be up there in minimum, that top six bracket. It’s absolutely incredible, wherever you go in the world, you will meet Celtic supporters. The fan base, the history of the club, that’s what makes it a truly, truly massive club.”
Hours later, his comments appeared to rile up late-night host Andy Goldstein who took objection with Rodgers’ assertion and suggested Celtic were only ‘giants in Scotland’ rather than a massive club that could definitely compete with the best in England if they had the resources of Premier League TV money.
Darren Bent thinks Celtic would be a major draw
Former Spurs and Villa forward Darren Bent argued against Goldstein and reckons Celtic would be a big draw to players if they were in that league, to the extent they would be competing towards the top of the table.
He said [talkSPORT]: “Celtic around the world? Celtic are massive! If Celtic were in the Premier League, players would want to go and play for them. They are a massive club all around the world.
“You put them in the Premier League, there are no guarantees, they would attract big players. I’d give them a good crack at it. They would get a big opportunity. If you are a top player and Celtic are in the Premier League, where are you going – Celtic or Bournemouth?”
Goldstein then read off a list of multiple clubs including Everton and West Ham, with Bent saying he’d rather sign for the Bhoys.
The former striker added: “They’d have a good chance of being top six if they were in the Premier League for a few years, that’s a fact. Nobody is saying right now.”
The likelihood is that we will never be able to test out this theory. English clubs would never vote to include a club like Celtic in the league because it would make it harder for everyone to achieve success with another top side to compete against.
Celtic need to continue to assert their dominance in Scotland, tool up for the new-look UEFA Champions League and make an impression on that scene. That’s the way to leave no one in any doubt about the power of Celtic.