Brendan Rodgers says he’s been 'belittled' and 'disrespected' his whole career but that’s when Celtic boss at his best

Brendan Rodgers reckons he has been belittled and disrespected throughout his managerial career.

It’s why he’s happy when he has a point to prove. And it’s when he’s at his best. Rodgers has been successful in big jobs at major clubs such as Celtic and Liverpool. He won an FA Cup at Leicester and took success to Swansea. Still some questioned Rodgers. His first spell at Parkhead brought a staggering run of seven domestic trophies out of seven.

Yet, earlier this week, Rodgers stated he has to prove himself in the post all over again. Asked to expand on that notion as he prepares for Saturday's title kick-off, he said: “My journey in my football life, as I sit here today, I’ve probably been belittled a lot and disrespected a lot in my career because I didn’t have any big playing background. That’s when I’m at my best. So there’s always questions around will you succeed, is it because of this.

"There’s always a reason why. It doesn’t worry me, though. Don’t get me wrong. I just think in general when anyone has to prove a point, then that’s when you’re at your best, really. It’s that challenge. The number one thing that breeds success is to have that challenge. The challenge to come back here, especially on the back end of how I left. It wasn’t ideal for many.

“So I wanted to come back and show we can have some great moments again. Everything is possible. Each season brings a new challenge. When I think back to when I came in here the last time in 2016, at the end of it, everyone was saying it was all smooth and it was great and we were invincible, but it certainly wasn’t that when we came in.

“When we came in, people were talking about we’re finished. Rangers were coming back into the league having beaten Celtic well,