Brendan Rodgers has aimed a thinly-veiled swipe at Barry Ferguson, Neil McCann and Billy Dodds over their comments on Rangers boss Russell Martin.
The trio were in interim charge of the Ibrox club at the end of last season and wanted to remain permanently but were overlooked in favour of the former Southampton boss. Results had been mixed during their short tenure,
Martin has had a tough start and is yet to win a Premiership game, sitting tenth after five fixtures. He is facing intense scrutiny from fans and pundits alike.
Ferguson, McCann and Dodds are back working in the media and have been among those giving their opinions on the siutation. Rodgers has taken issue with that given they were in his shoes not so long ago, and not finding it all that easy.
The Celtic boss said: "I have some issues around the moral aspect when I see people commenting on how he's doing and and and 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.
"I'm always aware and and I look to see what other managers will be saying, what people who've been in that in that position, who should know better.
"And some will say 'well, I've got to comment'. But you've walked in the shoes. There's nobody, unnless you've been in the shoes of a manager of a club, do you really, really understand what that person's going through. And if you have been in that position, then you should respect that. You know how tough it is, you know how challenging it is.
"So for me, I've always, as I've always found that interesting when when managers who are currently in a job that are taking a bit of stick from from people, like I say, who weren't that long ago in the job and found it challenging."
Rodgers has launched a passionate defence of Martin, who is facing stick right now after such a horrendous start to life in Govan.
One criticism this week has been the decision to take the squad on a team-bonding exercise at Loch Lomond. The Celtic manager points out that is normal and says he did something similar this week.
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He explained: "Being a manager in this modern game and especially at the high end clubs and the big pressure clubs, it's 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.
"I see some of the stuff from during the week when when when the team went on a team building exercise. Every team does that. Like anything in life, it's timing. In another time, if if Russell does that and and they were won a few games, everyone would be saying 'what a great idea.'
"We had a team building exercise during the week with the the players and the partners and wives and girlfriends, and it was really nice. Thankfully, you guys didn't get to hear about it. No, but it happens. So yeah, and I see the the scrutiny that's that's on Russell and whatever happens for him, he will be better for it."
The Northern Irishman had a brief chat with his counterpart from across the city after the recent derby draw between the two sides.
He added; "I spoke to Russell after our game when we played at Ibrox. He's a big guy. He's a big man.
"He was a really good servant for Scotland when he played. He had a fantastic career built around will and desire and and had a really good career, stepped into management, has done well with the clubs that he's that he's been at.
"And he's now taken on an opportunity up here to try and and transform. So, give him room to breathe. You know, of course there's always a demand, there will always will be. But it's other people outwith that, I struggle to to see how they can say the thing that they say with a young manager who is trying to to get his way in."
