CELTIC boss Brendan Rodgers has slammed the ex-Rangers coaches who were “stood in his shoes or sat on the bench” not long ago for criticising his Old Firm opposite number Russell Martin.
And the Hoops gaffer has revealed that he took his players and their wives and girlfriends on their OWN team-bonding exercise this week.
4
4
4
Gers boss Martin’s position is a source of major scrutiny right now, with new Gers owner Andrew Cavenagh jetting in for the Premier Sports Cup clash with Hibs on Saturday night.
That’s after a week in which he’s faced calls for his head from disgruntled fans with another protest scheduled for just hours before kick off – and been widely decried for taking his team on a wild swimming team bonding exercise in Loch Lomond.
But Martin drew support from his Old Firm opposite number, not least because some of the criticism has come in the media utterings of Rangers commentators who were part of the regime which immediately preceded him.
Coaches Billy Dodds and Neil McCann have both given their forthright opinions on Rangers’ struggles while former Ibrox boss Barry Ferguson took a pop at Martin’s “skinny dipping” trip to Loch Lomond.
Read More Football Stories
Ahead of Sunday’s clash with Partick Thistle, Rodgers said: “I have some issues around the moral aspect when I see people commenting on how well he is doing when not that long ago they were stood in his shoes or sat on the bench.
“So I don’t like that when I see a manager being pulled up on certain parts of the game, certain tactics of the game, that not so long ago other people couldn’t work that out either.
“For him everything will be stronger. He has got a bit of experience behind him at 39. I was 39 when I managed Liverpool so I know what it’s like to go into the big arenas. Everything will make him stronger, You have just got to have that inherent belief in what you are doing then hopefully you get the opportunity to come through it.
“I’ve had more than 800 games now as a manager so I’m always aware and looking to see what other managers say who should know better.
“Unless you have been in the shoes of a manager or coach do you really understand what a manager is going though.
“And if you HAVE been in that position then you should respect more, you know how tough it is, you know how challenging it is, certain things you can’t change, that you can’t bring out into the open.
“I’ve always found that interesting when managers who are currently in a job from people who weren’t that long ago IN that job, and found it challenging.”
Rodgers, who spoke to Martin at the end of the recent Old Firm match, called for critics to give him “room to breathe” and said he struggled to see why people said what they said.
He added: “Being a manager in this modern game especially at the high end, at big pressure clubs its a big challenge.
“Because all the eyes are on you, it can be a lonely place.
“The voices of safety are even less. There’s hardly any time to breathe but you have to find a way.
4
“I see some of the stuff from during the week when the team went on a team building exercise – you know every team does that.
“It’s like anything in life, it’s timing. At another time, if the team had won a few games, everybody would say what a great idea.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
“You know, you look as a manager for blocks of time when you can, we had a team building exercise during the week, with the team, the partners and their girlfriends and it was really nice.
“Thankfully you guys didn’t get to hear about it. But it happens. Whatever happens for him, he will be better for it.”
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
