Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has told incoming Rangers head coach Kevin Muscat “we’ll be ready for it” as the Aussie prepares to take over from Russell Martin. Though he isn’t expected to arrive until the conclusion of the Chinese Super League season, where he’s currently engaged in a title fight with his Shanghai Port team.
Remarkably, the Australian could become the tenth Rangers manager Rodgers has faced during his two tenures at Parkhead, with an interim manager yet to be officially announced ahead of next month’s Premier Sports Cup showdown at Hampden. Rodgers, who previously encountered Muscat during his Liverpool managerial stint, expressed his readiness to face the latest challenge from Govan.
He said: “I think every team that changes manager, you always accept and take on the challenge of new ideas and that freshness that they may bring.
“I don’t know Kevin that well, but I came across him a few times when I was at Liverpool. He came in to training when I was manager at Liverpool and spent some time with him there.
“And then of course, when we travelled then over to Australia with Liverpool and met him in Ange when I was there.
“I don’t know him that well, but he’s done a really good job in the teams that he’s been at in Asia.
“If he’s to be the new manager coming in, then it’s another new challenge. And as I said, for us, we’ll be ready for it.”
Rodgers expressed regret at witnessing sacked manager Martin dismissed after merely seven league matches at the helm, but believes his former touchline adversary will benefit from the harsh lessons of operating within Glasgow’s unforgiving spotlight.
He added: “Well, I think you’re always disappointed when any manager loses his job and Russell being no different.
“It was a challenge that he’ll learn from in his career. He’s got many more years left as a coach and a manager.
“And I’ve always said, when you manage here at Celtic or Rangers, the pressure really is relentless and you find out things about yourself and this role and this job and I’m sure he would have done that.
“I wish him all the best and he’ll probably have a bit of time out and then look to go again and use this experience.”
Rodgers declared earlier this week that the crushing demands of steering Celtic or Rangers makes alternative positions feel like a holiday.
He explained: “If you’re down south and without knowing the level and the intensity and the sheer size of the clubs up here, and especially as we say Celtic and Rangers, they’re huge clubs.
“I’ve always said that this job here is right up there in terms of pressure, from managing in different clubs in the Premier League at different times.
“A promoted club, a mid-table club and a top club – Celtic is right up there at the very top in terms of pressure and resilience needed.
“It is a challenge for every manager, especially coming into Celtic and Rangers. And you only hope that you can meet that pressure and deal with that and somehow succeed.”
Celtic are set to face Dundee on Sunday, but the Hoops will be without their star player Daizen Maeda, as the Japanese forward had to pull out from international duty due to an injury.
Rodgers, who confirmed that a fit-again Alistair Johnston was back in contention, stated: “Daizen will be out. He felt his hamstring a little bit towards the end of the last game against Motherwell.
“He went away internationally to see if it would get better but he obviously didn’t play when he was away.
“So he will miss this weekend and we’ll assess it after that. Paolo Bernardo has been ill so we’ll see how he recovers in the next 24 hours.
“Apart from that, everyone is okay. Ali is back in training which is great news for us. We will finalise the squad tomorrow but hopefully he is good to go.”
Rodgers has brushed off rumours that the champions were planning to sign RB Salzburg midfielder Bobby Clark in a £6million January deal.
He chuckled: “I see that it’s one that’s come from a long way out, that one!
“I wouldn’t normally say anything but I really don’t know where that has come from at all, especially in October.
“So yeah, I’m really not sure where that’s come from.”