"We set out to win the game," Brendan Rodgers

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Aston Villa’s John McGinn during the English Premier League match between Aston Villa and Arsenal at Villa Park on August 24, 2024. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Q: What do you make of John McGinn’s progress since Celtic were linked with him before?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, I was very keen on taking John to Celtic. But listen, the move has worked out brilliant for him. Obviously, he joined Steve at the time and they were in the Championship, but he was coming to a massive club, a great club. And they then got themselves out of the Championship and he’s really thrived in the environment here. I’m so pleased for him because, like I said, the Celtic move was nearly there. But he’s come down to England and he’s been absolutely brilliant for Aston Villa. I see he’s just back fit, so he may play a part in the game tomorrow. But, no, he’s been a real instrumental player from what I see on the pitch. And obviously, off the pitch, he’s got strong character and I’m sure he’s really influenced the club.”

Unai Emery, Manager of Aston Villa speaks to the media ahead of the match with Celtic in the UEFA Champions League at Bodymoor Heath training ground on January 28, 2025. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

Q: Brendan, you mentioned a little bit about the job that Unai has done here. What’s it been like taking him on as a manager? What’s the kind of challenges of taking on one of his teams?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, the PSG challenge was difficult! Then, obviously, we faced it when he was at Arsenal and obviously when he was here at Aston Villa. So, no, listen, his teams are super organised. Again, I can’t praise him enough because he’s a top-class manager. He’s managed over 1,000 games already in his career. He came to England to Arsenal and it was a difficult moment for him. People may be questioning him, but you only need to look at his body of work to see he was a top-class coach. And then, like I say, he had the courage and the bravery then to come back to England. When people tried to mock him and make fun of him and his record and his work, which I found incredible at the time, but it’s been brilliant to see him come to here. And, like I said, clearly he will feel wanted.

“He feels appreciated in his work. You see the work he’s done on the pitch with the players. You sense the club was then built around the various guys and the various positions here at the club. The club has really grown in his time here. The teams themselves, they’re super organised, tactical, always in good discipline, will press the game at the right moments, will sit off on a block, and then what they have is really good players in counter-attack that can get through the lines very quickly. So, to see him evolve here and see the growth and what he’s given Aston Villa has been so, so impressive. I look forward to seeing him. I obviously met him in the PSG days and obviously with Arsenal towards the end of his time there and then obviously here at Aston Villa. So, yes, a good guy who’s done some great work at all the clubs he’s been at.”

Stuart Kettlewell Motherwell manager, photo by Vagelis Georgariou

Q: Brendan, we saw Stuart Kettlewell resign from Motherwell yesterday and he cited abuse towards him and his family. I just wanted to hear your thoughts on that as a fellow manager.

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, it’s never nice. I’d obviously seen that news in the afternoon and Stuart’s a strong character, so it must have been a lot for him to resign from his post. Again, a young guy who’s gone into Motherwell and done a very, very good job. So, it’s sad. It’s bad enough when you lose your job in football, but to have to do it for those reasons. And I think for him, the priority is what it should be. It’s family and football. Your family comes first. And it’s obviously disappointing that it’s got to a stage where he felt that he didn’t want to continue in his work because he’s done some great work at Motherwell.”

Sondre Orjasaeter of Norway during the UEFA European Under-21 Qualifier playoff football match between Norway and Finland on November 19, 2024 in Stavanger. Photo: Marius Simensen

Q: Just very quickly, Brendan, there was a story today linking Celtic with a bid for a Norwegian winger, Sondre Orjasaeter?

Brendan Rodgers: “I’m not aware of that at all. I don’t know.”

Q: Brendan, it’s interesting to hear you say about Unai being mocked for his past achievements. Do you think that’s been underplayed, the fact that he’s actually come back and silenced his doubters?

Brendan Rodgers: “Within football there wasn’t doubt, because you only need to look at, as I said, the body of work over a long period of time. But, of course, everything that gets highlighted in our media and press, and in particular in the Premier League, it was, I’m sure, challenging for him. But there was no doubt he was a top manager. So, to see him come here and do the work that he’s done, I’ve been just so happy for him because you see how the team has played. I think also you see how the club has really grown. Obviously, the new owners have come in and invested heavily in the club, and the club has been able to grow with the level of player they have.

“But for that, you still need a top coach to maximise what you can get out of them, and I think he’s done that. So, the journey they were on to get to the Champions League, absolutely great. It’s always a challenge when you’re having to then mix in the European football with the domestic football, but you just keep developing and growing, and the work that he’s done to do that has been absolutely first class. I’m really pleased for him, and as I said, I can’t speak highly enough for the work that he’s done here.”