Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has responded to Roy Keane’s comments about the club.
Celtic’s Scott Brown with manager Brendan Rodgers
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has told The Scotsman that whilst he respects Roy Keane’s opinion, he doesn’t agree with the Irishman.
The Bhoys were hammered 7-0 by Barcelona on Tuesday night, with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar all scoring to hand Brendan Rodgers’ side a defeat.
Republic of Ireland assistant coach Roy Keane
Celtic’s Champions League campaign has kicked off with a thumping defeat, and with Manchester City and Borussia Monchengladbach also in their group, Rodgers’ men face a tough task making it through to the knockout stages of the competition.
After Celtic’s thrashing, former Bhoys midfielder Roy Keane had his say on the club’s Champions League hopes, blasting the Bhoys for being poor throughout qualifying and over-celebrating just for making it to the group stage. (via ITV)
Keane clearly wasn’t impressed with how Celtic have conducted themselves in qualifying for the competition, or their defeat to Barcelona, and his comments have sparked a reaction from many fans and pundits.
Republic of Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane
Ahead of Celtic’s game against Inverness Caledonian Thistle this weekend, manager Rodgers has commented on Keane’s comments, as quoted by The Scotsman.
Rodgers stated that he has seen what Keane said, and whilst he respects his opinion, he thinks that until you have been in the situation of leading your side to the Champions League, it’s hard to appreciate just how much of an achievement it really is.
Rodgers noted that the Republic of Ireland staff – which Keane is part of – celebrated wildly after qualifying for Euro 2016, and noted that Hapoel Be’er Sheva, who Celtic beat in their Champions League qualifying campaign, beat Inter Milan 2-0 in the Europa League on Thursday.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers
“I have seen some bits of Roy,” said Rodgers. “Listen, I respect his opinion. He has been a manager and he understands and he is an assistant now. So he has seen what it means in order to achieve something. When they [the Republic of Ireland] qualified for the Euros I think that was an achievement. I don’t think there were too many of the staff who stood not smiling, or hugging or cuddling or stuff.
“Where we are at is we had to go through six real tough qualification games. Until you’ve experienced it – and I have to be honest, I was totally ignorant of the fact of what it took because normally I was on my holidays – and until you actually come through it, until you actually experience the emotion and what it means to people [you can’t really judge it].”
“Actually, the team they beat in the final qualification round was a good side. They can go to the San Siro and win 2-0 so they are no mugs. I think the players have every right, out of relief, out of ambition, to celebrate success if success was to reach the Champions League,” he added.
Do you agree with Keane’s comments on Celtic?
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