Why the double 'H' means something different in Rodgers team

It stands for Hail, Hail...it's the opening refrain to the popular club anthem 'Hail, Hail the Celts are here...'

It is also used by the clubs' supporters as a kind of greeting or a phrase to signal goodbye whenever good friends part company. One can only conjecture if Brendan Rodgers and the current first team members utilise the double 'H'.

We'll return to that in due course.

Understandably Rodgers was in a cracking mood as he previewed the clash against Kilmarnock on Wednesday night. Why wouldn't he be?

Celtic's 2-1 home Scottish Premiership victory over title rivals Rangers all but sealed the title deal for his charges as the defending champions moved six points clear of Philippe Clement's side with two games left to play.

Nothing less than a win for Rangers tonight against Dundee at Ibrox will suffice otherwise the race for the league flag is over. It is already over bar the shouting and celebrating but Rodgers was keen to emphasise nothing has been won...yet!

READ MORE: Rodgers has masterfully played Clement and media - he MUST be forgiven

He doesn't care how the title is wrapped up off the field or on it. It's all the same to Rodgers as long as his Celtic team get it over the line. When asked the barbed question if he had fun at the weekend and if he would be keeping an eye on events in Govan he was unequivocal in his response. Nope, the English Premier League title race is allegedly where it's at.

The Northern Irishman said "We had a very, very good win. It was a great day for the team and the club. That's our job.

"We are here to serve the supporters and the club. It is always a great way especially when you can beat one of your rivals. It was a very important and significant win for us and put us in a good place.

"As for the Rangers v Dundee game, no I will watch Tottenham v Manchester City, once we have finished our work here. I'll watch that game. Our only focus is on ourselves and preparing for the game tomorrow as we can't control anything else.

"For me. it doesn't really matter. Some people would prefer to win it there (Kilmarnock) and you have the celebration. It is about collating the points over the season and when it is mathematically rubber-stamped you take that.

"From a personal level. You are right it has been a challenge. I am reluctant to speak up until it is done. We haven't done anything as of yet because we have not achieved what we have put ourselves in a brilliant position.

"Everyone is anticipating what will happen and once it does I will probably reflect a wee bit more openly and longer but until then I'd be silly to focus on anything else other than the performance and winning."

The finishing line and the chequered flag are within touching distance. All sorts of talk permeate the atmosphere. Celtic could be in line for a bumper £60 million boost to the coffers in the newly revamped Champions League competition.

Rodgers is excited about what the future holds for Celtic. He hinted at a recalibration for the champions and a pushing of the reset button when it comes to being competitive in the European arena.

There was also chatter of the clubs' hierarchy (including CEO Michael Nicholson) being on the same page when it comes to what Celtic need in the summer. The future's bright. The future's green and white.

New Champions League format. New Celtic.

It's the kind of top-tier thinking that has been missing of late and has held Celtic back. There was even the beating of familiar jungle drums as Rodgers reiterated his request for quality players in the summer. Quality equals progress and growth for a club like Celtic at all levels.

The 51-year-old said: "I am really excited about moving forward and moving into a bright future with the club. This season has been a real challenge and the squad is not as strong as I would like it to have been. What the players have given me until this point has been absolutely brilliant. Our job going forward next year is to be stronger, much stronger. That is something that is well underway.

"I think every coach and manager would like to be able to conduct early transfer business. There are definitely positions that we'd like to have finalised sooner rather than later.

"Ideally, if we can do that then great, but what's really important for us this summer is getting the level of quality that I want into the squad. That will be absolutely key for the growth of this team. As I've said, the guys in this team have been absolutely fantastic this season, but next season we need more depth in the squad.

"In my past time here, I was going away to Ross County making eight changes. I was bringing into that team [players like] Stuart Armstrong, Ryan Christie – these guys have shown that they're Premier League quality. I remember going away to Dubai to our training camp, and, in a proper game, the second team beat the starters 5-0. That gave me great food for thought then when I came back for the second part of the season.

"It was a proper football game. That told me the depth that was required and I think that's something that's definitely required here because we lost a bit of that in the summer, and no doubt that we'll need to restructure that going forward. We've got some fantastic players here and we want to add to that.

"Every season has to be a learning season on and off the pitch. I've gained nothing but support from Michael [Nicholson] and the people here. However, going forward, the football strategy is very much there in terms of what it is we want to bring in.

"It's not about numbers, it's about increasing the quality of the squad but that's for later on, as we still have a massive job to do over the next three games."

READ MORE: Why quality players will help Rodgers Celtic grow as a club

Rodgers returns to Rugby Park which is ironic as it was nine days after his side had all but clinched the league title at the same venue five years ago owing to a solitary last-gasp Scott Brown goal that he dropped the bombshell that he was quitting the club to take up the managerial reins at Leicester City.

A win or a draw this time against Derek McInnes' men will be enough to force it over the line assuming Rangers can dispose of Dundee. McInnes' team have had a stellar season and bloodied Celtic's nose twice inflicting the first defeat of the season in the League Cup back in August and another Premiership loss in December when the champions had a bit of a wobble.

However, Rodgers is steeling himself for another encounter with a dangerous opponent with a formidable manager. He said: "I've never really thought about it like that. It's a place that I know Celtic have won the league four times outwith Celtic Park, so our aim is to make it five.

"If we can do that then we'll all be really happy. At the moment, I'm just concentrating on a really tough game against a really well-organised and coached team, who have done brilliantly themselves this season.

"From where they've come from and now to have European football, so that's the only concentration as opposed to the past. That game in 2019 was definitely a tough game and a game that we knew we needed to win to keep the pressure on. To eventually get through, that was significant. You do look back and see games that had more significance than others, but that one was certainly one of them at that time.

"Derek is an excellent manager with great experience. He knows what he wants from his team. You've seen the fantastic job that he did at Aberdeen. Everything that he did there, bringing them to European football, challenging for trophies, making them super competitive, it's arguable that they haven't been the same since he left.

"He's obviously come to Kilmarnock, and looks like he's found that again and has an owner that really backs him. He did a great job getting out of the championship, stabilised in the first year and then able to build on it. They've been very, very good. I'm not surprised by it. I know Derek and his level. Whatever plaudits he gets, he thoroughly deserves them. He's given great value to his work.

"I would always speak very highly of him if I was ever asked for any position. I think that'll come, he's still young, he's still got a lot of years left as a manager and he still has the hunger. I've got no doubt he will get that opportunity. He seems very happy in the job that he's doing at Kilmarnock, but I've no doubt that he'll get other opportunities at a higher level."

Rodgers though has primed all of his Celtic men for this moment all season. He paid a glowing tribute to every member of his squad even those who have had to sit on the sidelines and watch their teammates claim all the glory.

He said: "It started several months back. It is safe to say the first six months were awkward. There were so many things happening on and off the pitch. We stayed very unified and concentrated on our work and the processes of how we work.

"We knew if we kept chipping away we could get to this part of the season, which we are all excited about, to perform and that's what the team has done.

"It is just a constant, a day-to-day thing, it's an environment that's created and the standards that we set. It takes humble players and it is the one thing that I say right up until this point is that there is a lot of glory and a lot of focus on the players that have been playing over this run. Over that period they have been fantastic but I can also pay tribute and recognise the achievements of the players that haven't been playing and haven't been in the squad sometimes.

"My recognition and acknowledgement of them is equally as proud as the players who are playing and doing well. How they have conducted themselves and trained every day allows for the sessions to be at the very highest level. If we had players that weren't happy and every player wants to play but there is a way to behave when you are not playing and these guys have been absolutely magnificent.

"As a coach, it gives you great pride to see that. It is not easy if you are not playing. Our preparation right the way through and the standards that the players have set has never wavered even when it has been a challenge. They get their rewards now and as I said after the weekend we are nearly there. We have got a really exciting three games left to finish the season strong."

Redemption can come in many forms.

Rodgers said: "I think that's important for everyone, not just for me. I mentioned it earlier, it's probably been a little bit awkward in those first six months, and maybe even now for some supporters. They may never be able to shake off that feeling, and I respect that, and I understand that, and I'll deal with that the best I can.

"What I will do is keep looking forward, and the best way to do that is with everyone together. We've seen that, in particular, over the last three months or so, that unity. We've had periods in the season where we haven't had supporters in, the stadium's been quiet, and for me, that's not Celtic.

"Celtic is very much that unification of supporters, players, and managers all for one cause. When that comes together, we've seen it so many times over so many years, and we've seen it this year – when it comes together it's such a symbol of strength. Our plan and hopefully our motion going forward is to stay that way."

So what is the special double 'H' ingredient that has been the hallmark of Rodgers's Celtic team and the bedrock of their success this season?

The double 'H' in this instance stands for 'Humble and Humility'.

Even Rodgers would say a 'Hail, Hail' to that sentiment.