Arne Engels hit by coins at Ibrox
Arne Engels hit by coins at Ibrox
Q: Brendan, there was obviously the awful incident with Arne Engels at Ibrox in January, would your hope be that the warnings and safety measures that have been put in place for this weekend are heeded and the game passes off without an incident like that, and the players are respected on the park?
Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, it’s only logical to add to what I’m sure you’ll write about. But yes, we’re there for the game. We’re there for the entertainment of the football, and that’s what we’ll try to control.”
Jota back at Celtic. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Q: In terms of your match winners, Jota was speaking about how much he is looking forward to the fixture?
Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, I think all the players collectively, it’s important in a game like this here for us to play well. But of course, with Jota going away, sometimes when you’re here and you’re playing the fixture a lot, you maybe come away from here and think there’s maybe other derbies that are similar to it. But I’m sure when he left, he recognised the true, real special meaning of the Celtic (the)Rangers game. So yes, it’s a game that all the players will relish, especially the likes of Jota, who has been away. Maybe he never thought he would play in one again, but now he’s back in it and he’ll want to perform, which is great news for us.”
Q: Did you miss these occasions when you were down the road?
Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, it’s a brilliant game. I obviously tuned into them virtually all when I possibly could. So yes, the build-up to it, the intensity, because it’s modern football. Like I said, it’s people’s lives. It’s what they breathe every single day. And you know that responsibility you have as a manager. And the great privilege that we have for every supporter around the world, the Celtic supporter in every corner of the world, the opportunity to give them that real, real good feeling. So yes, I tuned into them when I was away from here, before I was here, and then now to be back in it, it’s always special.”
