Brendan Rodgers rues John McGinn as Celtic's one that got away – 'We were nearly there'
Brendan Rodgers reckons it’s incredible that Unai Emery was mocked and made a figure of fun.
The Celtic boss is excited for another joust with the Spaniard as his team tackle Aston Villa. Emery has worked wonders in the Midlands to have his club punching in the Champions League. Rodgers could barely believe the attitude taken to his opposite number during a difficult period at Arsenal. Emery has responded brilliantly by turning Aston Villa into serious contenders at the top end of the English Premier League and leading them into the Champions League.
It’s a job that hasn’t gone unnoticed by Rodgers, who has squared up with the Spaniard numerous times over the years. Rodgers was Parkhead manager when Emery’s PSG scored 12 goals in two games against Celtic in 2017 and he smiled: “Yeah, the PSG challenge was difficult.”
But as he assessed Emery’s overall work, he said: “His teams are super-organised. I can’t praise him enough because he’s a top-class manager. Managed over 1,000 games already in his career. Came obviously 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, I had the courage and the bravery then to come back to England. When people try 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 here. 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 is then built around the various guys and the various positions here at the club.
“And 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 has been so, so impressive. So, yeah, 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, yeah, a good guy who’s done some great work at all the clubs he’s been at.”
It’s not just Emery Rodgers admires at Villa. His old Leicester City charge Youri Tielemans is one of the main men in the Midlands and John McGinn, of course, will forever be the one that got away for the Celtic boss.
Rodgers said: “Youri was absolutely brilliant for me. Youri was a young player that we spent a lot of money on, bringing him to Leicester. And I’m so pleased to see how he’s done here. I thin you have certain players in your squads. He’d be very much like Callum (McGregor) for me, where he was a coach on the pitch.
“His view of the game was absolutely first-class. And even as a really, really young player he was just a real top player in his mentality and his attitude. And then we were lucky to share a really special moment, winning the FA Cup for Leicester for the first time and he scored a brilliant goal.
“So, I’m so pleased to see him here now and seeing his influence. Because obviously, when he first came in, there were other good players and he’s obviously trying to work his way into a new club.
“But when I see him now play, he’s very much a leader on the pitch for Aston Villa. Just how he plays the game, how he organises the players around him. Yeah, a really, really good guy. He’s a top professional.”
There’s no hard feelings over McGinn either. Rodgers said: “I was very keen in taking John to Celtic. But listen, the move has worked out brilliant for him. Obviously, Steve (Bruce) was in charge at the time, 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. So, 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 some strong character and I’m sure he’s really influenced the club.”
Things won't be so chummy this evening as Rodgers is here on business. He's out to win on English soil and he won't be paying much attention to what is going on elsewhere.
Rodgers said: “No, it will be very, very, very difficult to do anything other than concentrating on the game. I won’t have a telly in my pocket or anything. I think if you’re at home watching all the games and scores, it’ll be great for you.
“And all the teams playing at the same time and all the various permutations. But us as football managers and coaches will be focused on the game.”
Rodgers won't be simply shutting up shop. He'd love nothing more than claiming an EPL scalp as Hoops boss. He said: “It’s like we’ve seen from this season, a point can go a long way as well. It’s like what we’ve done in a lot of our games.
"We set out to win the game. “There will be moments when we have to adapt in the game to the qualities and how we defend. As I said, our job is done in terms of getting into the 24, but it’s certainly not complete.”
