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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Josh McCafferty

Why Brendan Rodgers brought up infamous Celtic banner on trophy day

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says a banner of him smoking a cigar makes him feel much better than the one that was unveiled when he left the club six years ago. 

Rodgers swapped Glasgow's east end for Leicester in the middle of the 2018/19 campaign. 

In the first game after his impromptu departure, a banner was unveiled from the travelling Celtic support at Tynecastle that read 'You traded immortality for mediocrity... Never a Celt, always a fraud'. 


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Rodgers was quizzed on a recent banner of him smoking, causing him to bring up the infamous Gorgie display: "It's better than what it was a few years ago," he said. 

"It certainly warms the heart more than the banner at Tynecastle when I left.

"Listen, for every coach or manager, when you feel wanted or appreciated at a club, of course it gives you motivation and commitment to do even more for the club.

"Celtic have a fanatical support base and they deliver an expectation on you.

"I know what the supporters want and that gives me that drive to make them proud and be the best I can be.

"It warms the heart as a manager when you get that kind of support, but I'm not Michael Jordan...I'm not a smoker!"

Rodgers' men lifted the Scottish Premiership title on Saturday afternoon, although they will look to get their hands on more silverware next weekend when they face Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden. 

Celtic have won the previous two meetings of the sides by a combined scoreline of 10-2. 

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