Break every record we can, says Rodgers

Petrov has little doubt that Rodgers can claim back-to-back trebles

PA

The Northern Irishman has no intention of allowing himself or his players to rest on their laurels, though, insisting he will continue to crack the whip in an attempt to smash every record out there.

Former players have piled on plaudits, and pressure, in the past week. Stiliyan Petrov said that Rodgers would not only become the first manager to win consecutive trebles but that the Irishman would repeat the feat for the foreseeable future. Charlie Nicholas went further, stating that he could not imagine Rangers becoming champions again during his lifetime. He is 55.

“If only it was that simple, eh?” said Rodgers. “If only you knew every player would stay fit. It’s not as easy as that. I respect Charlie; he was a wonderful player and has done well down south in his [punditry] work. Stiliyan’s a good guy and a legend here at the club. I respect all that but, when you’re in first position, it’s never as easy as that.

“There’s no danger [of complacency seeping in] because the players are prepared strategically in order to focus on the next game: that has always been our mantra. The minute you forecast and predict is when you come unstuck. There are so many variables in football between winning and losing a game; who is fit, the pitches being great and everything being fine then you have a great chance. But you have seen it [in our game] away at Hamilton: a poor decision means you lose a man so you have to find another way and, thankfully, we were able to win and win well.

“It’s great for the guys looking in from the outside but, being on the inside and working, it’s different to that. I haven’t thought of it [the Lions’ record]. You read up on it but, for me, it’s all about the next game. I said at the beginning of the season that our appetite and desire to create history is important. Celtic is a winning club and that means winning in the best possible way you can. Sometimes players, especially if they are protected around a big club, do just enough to win.

“For us, from my first day here, it [has been about] promoting the philosophy that you [strive to] win in the best way you can, that you break as many records as you can and win as well as you can. You fight and defend the culture of the club and all these aspects come into it. But I never drown under all the stats and what it means. For me, it’s about preparing the team for the next game, as boring and unromantic as that is. That is the job.”

Rodgers insists there will always be fresh targets and too much isn’t enough: all he wants is everything. “I think there are so many things going on, especially in the modern game — media, social media, everything — so we narrow the focus on performance,” he said. “Because the consequence of performing is that you win games and then maybe that brings all the other things you talk about: trebles and the rest.

“You take it bit by bit. You set targets. Qualification for the Champions League? Bomp! Done. The League Cup? Done. The next thing is the title: can we win that? And after the title there are other performance-related targets. How many goals can we score? How few can we concede? Can we just be ruthless in terms of every record that’s out there?

“If we can be the best that we can be then everything else happens naturally. But don’t worry about the fantasy side of it.”