Brendan Rodgers on Rangers clash 'veteran' status as Celtic boss reveals he STILL watched derby after Leicester switch

Brendan Rodgers admits he’ll never lose the Old Firm fever. The Parkhead boss is a veteran of the fixture having been through 14 in the past.

Plenty of water has passed under the bridge since the first of his 11 wins almost seven-and-a-half years ago when Mark Warburton’s Ibrox team were routed. However, while time may pass, nothing alters for Rodgers. Not when it comes to his love for the uniqueness of this epic Glasgow showdown. Rodgers has been glued to it all his life and the blood will pump through his veins at the same searing pace as ever when he emerges from the tunnel at lunchtime.

He said: “It doesn’t change. There’s still so much on them for the points and for the supporters. I’m not so much calmer, there’s always an excitement there, you never lose that element of it. They are such special games. Having been involved in Liverpool vs Man Utd, Liverpool vs Everton and games of that magnitude, I still feel this is the one that really gets the juices going for everything, and for many reasons. It’s a special, unique game and you never get tired of it, that’s for sure.”

Even moving to Leicester didn’t stop him seeing them as he continued: “They would normally always fit in where we could see them, because they were normally always early kick offs. We always watched them on the screen if we possibly could.”

Rodgers has come across five previous managers during his two spells at Celtic and Philippe Clement is now the one to offer the latest challenge.

The Belgian has made a sparkling start to life at Ibrox, but it’s not about halting momentum across the city for the boss. For him, it’s about his own team.

Rodgers said: “I can’t control what Rangers do or what they think, but I can always control what Celtic do, so