Why it's nothing personal but strictly business for Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers is back as the head of the Celtic family.

It's been three weeks since the official unveiling of the Northern Irishman's second coming in Paradise. The 50-year-old is delighted to be back in situ.

Yet, there seems to be a cold, calculating, ruthless and cool efficacy about Rodgers this time around.

To borrow a line from 'The Godfather': "It's nothing personal, it's strictly business." For some of the Celtic faithful, Rodgers return has become 'personal' for them. For the man himself, 'it's strictly business'.

The business of turning Celtic into the best version of themselves that they can be both at home and at European football's top table in the Champions League.

Rodgers also signed off with a matter-of-fact message: "Let's get to work", in his first Celtic TV address.

Some 13,000 crammed inside Paradise the first time around when he was paraded to the Celtic supporters back in 2017. A few hundred stuck around for his public address on the Parkhead steps in 2023.

There are still some doubters who remain to be convinced about his second stint in Paradise but as Rodgers stated: "For those who I need to convince, I will see you here in May. Thank you very much for coming. Hail Hail."

He was at it again this week when he referenced the Celtic family during pre-season in Portugal.

The old 'you should never go back' adage was brought up once again but Rodgers easily swept it aside.

READ MORE: Rodgers in Celtic update on Hart's future and two fringe men

He said: "That doesn't bother me one bit. I have had it throughout my career, people saying not to do things or 'You can't do this or that'. It feels great. It feels like I am back with my family at Celtic.

"When you are with your family, you are at your best. The timing felt right to come back and it was the perfect time for me.

"I know the landscape but I am also ambitious for Celtic and I want us to be the best we can be. My hunger is very much here to do my best with a whole new group of players.

"I am looking forward to seeing what we can achieve.”

All handled with a cold, calculating, ruthless but cool efficacy.

He also didn't blink an eyelid when an Irish-based fan media representative was waxing lyrical about Mikey Johnston and asked Rodgers if it was part of his remit or ambition to get the Republic of Ireland star more involved this season and make sure he is nailed down.

The answer on the surface may have appeared gruff but it was a cracking warning shot over the bow to every Celtic player including Johnston that Rodgers Mk II ain't mucking about.

He said: "Not really. That's always Mikey's job. His job is to convince myself and the coaches that he is ready for a place. Sadly for Mikey, he is going to be out for a few more months as he had an issue with his back. He'll be out for near on three months.

"It is the player's responsibility. They have to show the quality and the consistency. They have to show that robustness in order to play. That is the job of every player."

It is up to the individual players to prove that they want to be an integral part of the Rodgers Celtic Family or face being cast in the role of a black sheep member of it.

The choice is theirs. Celtic and Rodgers are raising the bar of expectation, especially in the European arena.

Whilst Rodgers is a realist, he has also challenged the team and dared them and the fans to dream. The Celtic supporters like that kind of talk.

Talk is cheap though and it's actions and achievements that will count.

As Rodgers noted: "I think the ambition is to continue the success that the club has had and of course, we want to keep developing in Europe. Our bread and butter – I’ve said it before - is in Scotland and at home – in order to achieve anything in Europe we have to ensure that we dominate in Scotland.

"Then the ambition is to go as far as we possibly can in Europe – it’s a huge challenge with the teams and the investments of teams but it doesn’t stop allowing us to dream and that is the exciting part ahead.

"European football is always a challenge for a club like ourselves but we want to have probably more success than that I think. I read somewhere about Celtic not having a knockout win for such a long time but for me, it’s ensuring that domestically we continue with that success and of course, see what we can do in Europe and that’s a big ambition."

READ MORE: Brendan Rodgers' first Celtic pre-season press conference in full

For anybody doubting that European football is the next world that Rodgers wants his Celtic side to conquer then they need only listen to Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou.

The Aussie said: "He (Rodgers) is absolutely the right man, mate. He’s a fantastic manager and he loves that football club.

“Hopefully, they can make an impact in the Champions League, I know that’s what his ambition is. That group of players and staff certainly have the capability.”

Rodgers is the new head of the Celtic Family. The Godfather film also tells us: "The strength of a family, like the strength of an army, lies in its loyalty to each other.”

He's hungry. He's ambitious. He expects the same from his family of players.

Can Celtic be a success in Europe? This is the nature of the football business and Rodgers is certainly taking that part of his managerial remit very, very personally.

After all, it's strictly business.

Before it was IAWT - In Ange We Trust. It's now IBWT - In Brendan We Trust.

Rodgers has already gone to work.

To receive our full, free newsletter including this analysis straight to your email inbox the day BEFORE it appears on the website, click here and tick the box for The Celtic Digest