Brendan Rodgers is not one to shy away from grandiose statements but the likes of Newcastle United and West Ham United are proof he is deluded.
New Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers during the press conference
Rodgers has irked football fans with his soundbites over the years from proclaiming Liverpool were the biggest club in the world, to changing tack and announcing that in fact Celtic were up there.
Where that puts the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, Juventus and Bayern Munich, Brendan only knows.
Of course both Liverpool and Celtic, historically, are huge and historic clubs of that there is no doubt.
But the former Reading youth team manager’s latest claim, that Celtic would ‘comfortably’ be a top six side in the fiercely competitive Premier League, is perhaps his best yet.
Speaking in the wake of the euphoria of Celtic’s sixth successive title victory at the weekend, Rodgers told Sky Sports the Hoops would not only survive, but thrive.
“Could we play in the Premier League? Yes, we could,” Rodgers emphatically told Sky Sports.
“I have absolutely no doubt about it because we’ve got the Celtic factor. We have 60,000 every other week. Without the money alone, this team would compete in the Premier League.
Bullish Rodgers
“This is one of the great iconic clubs in the world so there is no doubt that with this group we could go in [there and compete]. Imagine the backing then. Celtic would be one of the minimum top four, top six clubs in the English Premier League and then that puts you on a different level altogether.”
Of course having a big stadium guarantees a place among the Premier League elite, just ask West Ham and Newcastle fans.
The Magpies have consistently had gates of more than 52,000 for years and currently reside in the Championship, the club’s second stint outside the top flight in the last eight years.
The London Stadium has not helped West Ham challenge the top six
West Ham, down in 14th place, have not even managed six wins let alone challenged the top six since moving into their new 60,000 seater London Stadium last summer.
And in the next two years Chelsea and Tottenham will join the Hammers, Newcastle, Manchester United and Arsenal in the big capacity club.
Then of course there is the money… which Rodgers claims would elevate Celtic onto another level.
Well Premier League clubs have been getting that big money for years now and will continue to do so if Celtic were ever to arrive.
Celtic’s Scott Brown and teammates celebrate winning the Scottish Premiership
So what makes Rodgers think they would suddenly be better than the other 14 or 16 teams with a bit more dosh in the club coffers?
And forget big spending, Rodgers thinks they could do it with their current squad. With Scott Sinclair, the Scottish Premiership’s top goalscorer spearheading the side… a player who barely got a kick for Aston Villa on their way to relegation last season.
Rodgers may be a decent manager. And there is no doubting he believes in his and his team’s ability.
But as great and grand a club as Celtic is, Rodgers’ latest claims are simply deluded.
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