"We never stop."
The slogan became a mantra under previous Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou. The Aussie, like Elvis, has left the building. There is a new man in charge of Celtic, and Brendan Rodgers is more concerned with prolonging Celtic's period of success. Achievement is one thing. Sustaining it is quite another.
That's why it was intriguing to hear both Rodgers and Celtic skipper Callum McGregor talk about the "pitfalls of success" in the lead-up to last weekend's Scottish Premiership curtain-raiser against Ross County. There is a wonderful clip of former national team boss Ally MacLeod when asked what he would do if Scotland won the 1978 World Cup in Argentina and he replies "Retain it!"
It was a tongue-in-cheek, jovial, off-the-cuff remark by MacLeod, which smacked of pure braggadocio. We all know what happened to MacLeod's Scotland and the least said about the events of the 1978 World Cup Finals, the better. However, it is worth thinking about Rodgers and Celtic and the "pitfalls of success".
What else can Rodgers do domestically but "retain it!" The treble, that is. If he doesn't win all three competitions this season does that make the 50-year-old a failure? After all, Rodgers is seven from seven domestic trophies during his first stint as Celtic boss.
He doesn't need blemishes on his CV - does he? By accepting the job for a second time the former Liverpool and Leicester City boss is laying his managerial reputation on the line this season.
Yet apparently, it is an issue that has already been addressed by Rodgers and the players. In a candid interview about what was spoken about behind closed doors, Rodgers admitted that the club's continued success had been brought up. It allowed every fan a rare insight into the inner sanctum.
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Rodgers said: "Within the team element, we did some workshops whilst we’ve been away to understand each other. To understand what the strengths of this squad are, where the improvement can be made, what the challenges are going to be.
"So all of that type of work goes into understanding what their thoughts are as individual players and as people. I believe life is about relationships. I always want to take the time to build that relationship."
McGregor also gave supporters a peek behind the Lennoxtown curtain when he declared: "It’s something we’ve spoken about already during pre-season. We’ve done a bit on the pitch, a wee bit in a classroom setting as well. We’ve had an open forum and tried to speak about the pitfalls of success and how to stay ahead of those traps. It comes down to culture and what the players are prepared to accept."
Rodgers then followed that up by stating: "I sit here with the knowledge of doing it [winning a treble], twice. So I understand what the pitfalls of success are. In order to have long-term success and continue with it there are certain elements you need to make sure you guard against. That’s something we’ve spoken about over the course of pre-season."
Both Postecoglou and Rodgers are relentless in their pursuit of success. It's just that their management styles contrast sharply with each other. The key word in all of this, though is relationship. Rodgers had a hands-on working relationship with his players. Postecoglou didn't.
This is Rodgers' style. Throughout his whole managerial career, he has formed close bonds with his players. Postecoglou does not do that. The protagonists are two polar opposites in terms of style and approach on the managerial spectrum. Yet both are treble-winning Celtic managers.
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Meet the new boss, not quite the same as the old boss. This is why Matt O’Riley wasn't having a go at Postecoglou when he provided another invaluable insight from Lennoxtown as reflected on the first few days of pre-season training working with Rodgers. Far from it.
The 22-year-old said: "So far it’s been amazing. Everyone seems quite upbeat and he brings that in terms of how he goes about things. He’s not reluctant to come and sit with us at lunch or have a chat which is quite nice. It’s a nice, refreshing change in a sense to have a bit more openness about the place. I’m looking forward to that.
"It was an amazing achievement. It has sunk in but Brendan has come in already and basically told us that’s done now isn’t it? It’s there, it’s in the history books but at the same time we have another season to do it again."
O'Riley was just letting everybody know that in terms of Celtic management, there was a new sheriff in town. The new sheriff just happens to be a serial winner. The end game is always the same for any manager and his team and that is to be successful and win trophies. Holding player workshops on the pitfalls of success as well as consigning past achievements to the history books is what Rodgers' second Celtic spell is all about.
Celtic have long shed their Pravda FC image and those dark days are long gone. Glasnost is very much in vogue at Parkhead. Although the mindset of Rodgers and his men always remains the same. What can the world record domestic treble holders do this season?
In an Ally MacLeod style, "retain it!" Of course. However, Rodgers' new-look Celtic only need to add one word to the old club mantra. "We never stop...winning."
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