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Rodgers ‘gold dust’ leaves Celtic skipper awestruck as Callum McGregor sends clear message to board about boss
Andrew Newport
5 – 6 minutes
McGregor is hoping his boss commits to a new deal after being blown away by his ‘gold dust’
Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers and Callum McGregor
Callum McGregor hopes Celtic can persuade boss Brendan Rodgers to extend his Parkhead deal after insisting the Hoops are lucky to have their “gold dust” gaffer.
The Northern Irishman continued his incredible record for silverware at the weekend as he collected his 11th major honour after wrapping up yet another Premiership title.
He has a chance to make it a dazzling dozen next month when Celtic head to Hampden looking to complete a Treble in the Scottish Cup Final.
But with just 12 months remaining on his Hoops contract, fans are already beginning to fret over Rodgers’ long-term future.
And McGregor is keen to see the club tie down a man who has now been crowned the club’s most successful living boss. The skipper said: “If we can keep him for as long as we can, then we have an elite level manager.
“He was hugely successful in his first spell. He’s come back, done the same again. The hunger’s there. He’s an elite manager at the highest level and Celtic are lucky to have him as well.
“Since he’s come in, he’s elevated the club to a new level. You just look at the domestic success that’s happened since then and it’s been relentless. If we’re successful in the cup final, that’ll be six Trebles in nine years – that’s unheard of.
“We then get into the conversation that if you don’t win a Treble, it’s been a disaster. That tells you how far he’s pushed the club.
Brendan Rodgers presents Callum McGregor with a commemorative shirt to celebrate his 500th club appearance
Brendan Rodgers presents Callum McGregor with a commemorative shirt to celebrate his 500th club appearance
“The manager doesn’t ever want to drop below that. You see it a couple of weeks ago against St Johnstone.
“We actually played relatively OK in the game, but the result hurts him. Straight away, he’s on to the players, ‘we have to rectify that’. That shows you his mentality.
“I see how he operates. I see the way he is around the training ground and when he speaks, I’m starting to understand why he’s doing things.
“He cares so much about the players. He cares so much about his profession as well. So when I see someone like that I think, ‘that’s gold dust’.”
There is a close bond between manager and captain but McGregor admits even he has no insight into Rodgers’ thinking beyond his current deal. “He doesn’t give much away,” said the midfielder. “Obviously, we do have a close relationship, not just as people but as captain and manager.
“But we’re not having those types of conversations. I’m his player. He can ask whatever he wants of me. I don’t want anything else other than that.”
McGregor reckons it would, though, be handy to know his intentions sooner rather than later. But even if Rodgers does decide to pack up and leave, he is certain the club can adapt, just like they did when he controversially quit to take over Leicester back in February 2019.
“If that is going to happen, I think he’d let the club know and want to leave the club in the best possible way,” he added. “That’s the type of guy he is.
“Even the first time around when he left, he knew he was leaving a really strong squad with really good staff. And you only need to see what happened after that.
“When he left, the success continued as well. So it’s always a good indication of when someone leaves and the whole thing falls apart, then there’s probably been a problem there somewhere as well. You look at Liverpool, for instance.
“The manager leaves, he was a legend. The next guy comes in, he inherits such a strong squad and the culture’s there. And they go and win the Premier League the following season.
Callum McGregor and Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers
Callum McGregor and Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers
“So I also think that’s part of the work as well, that you leave a strong foundation in place. And like I said, if that day ever comes, then I’m sure that’s what he’ll want to do as well.
“Ultimately, people will always respect what he’s done. Even the first time I get it, people weren’t happy, but he still set a new level for Celtic.
“He then came back and he raised the bar again from where we left. So I think in the end, when all the emotion dies down, people will think, ‘Wow, he was one of the best managers ever that managed at Celtic’.”
McGregor was speaking after being nominated for the PFA Scotland player of the year award alongside Dundee’s Simon Murray and teammates Daizen Maeda and Nicolas Kuhn.
He said: “It’s always nice to have that recognition. It’s a proud moment to be in these types of conversations.”
