Celtic manager on why Russell Martin will cope with Rangers pressure
Read more:
Rodgers, who is bidding to land a third consecutive Scottish title in the 2025/26 campaign, admitted that he was looking forward to pitting his wits against the ex-Norwich City defender in the months ahead.
The Northern Irishman, who is in his second spell in charge of his boyhood heroes, feels the loan that Martin had as a player in Govan back in 2018 will prove invaluable to his counterpart in his new role.
'I think the challenge always excites you when you come into a new season,' he said. 'I don't know Russell that well, but I've spoken to him. As a young manager and coach through his career, he's done very well. I followed him at Swansea, as a former club, and he did well there.
(Image: Craig Williamson - SNS Group) 'Then moving on, getting Southampton promoted is good. To take a team out of the Championship is hard. It's a tough, tough league. But he was able to do that. Obviously, then it was a difficult season for them in the Premier League, but that is a tough, tough league.
'But Russell, having been up here before, knows the pressures. One of the big things about managing Celtic and Rangers is managing pressure. The football idea and the coaching are obviously very important.
'It is important to have an identity and a style, but managing and playing under pressure is what's key up here. Russell, having been here before as a player at Rangers, will know what's in front of him.'
Read more:
Rodgers added, 'But I think the managers coming into the league make it exciting. Russell at Rangers, Derek at Hearts and Stuart at Killie as well.
'John [McGlynn] has done a brilliant job at Falkirk over a couple of seasons, getting them promoted twice. I know him well, so I know that they'll be giving everything to stay in the league.
'David Martindale is a good man who was in the league for a few years when I was here before. Livingston have come straight back up after getting relegated. Again, they are experienced managers. So I think the league as a whole will be strong and competitive.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
31 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Man Utd transfer news: Benjamin Sesko makes choice as contact made for 'unrealistic' deal
Manchester United look to have secured the signing of Benjamin Sesko, fending off Newcastle's interest, with the RB Leipzig striker closing on a move to Old Trafford Manchester United are closing in on the signing of Benjamin Sesko despite Newcastle also wanting to land the RB Leipzig frontman. Both teams are in the market for a striker, but the Red Devils look to have won the race. The Slovenian is poised to sign a five-year deal at Old Trafford and compliment the likes of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo with his possible signing taking the Manchester outfit's spending to around the £200million mark. Ruben Amorim knew he needed to get serious quality through the door if he was to improve on last year's horror showing, which ended with United finishing 15th. The club still need to try and get a number of players off their books or risk carrying them for several months. Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho and Antony are all looking for ways out of Manchester and their exits could help fund some of the club's future business. Here's the latest news involving the Premier League outfit. Sesko training solo after picking Red Devils Leipzig have confirmed Sesko is training away from his team-mates as speculation over his move to Manchester ramps up. The striker reportedly told his team-mates earlier this summer that he would be on the move to pastures new. The German club confirmed on Wednesday morning that the 22-year-old was again working individually. In a brief statement they said: "Wednesday squad update: Andrija Maksimovic is back in Leipzig, but is training individually today. Benjamin Sesko and Lukas Klostermann are also working individually." Sesko is also very much on Newcastle's radar and the Magpies were the club to make the first bid. However the striker has expressed a desire to head to Old Trafford, shunning Champions League football in the process, as Amorim closes on the No 9 he's been after. Baleba contact made Those in Manchester have made contact with Brighton as they look to land explore a deal for midfielder Carlos Baleba. The Cameroon star enjoyed a stellar year last season and the Seagulls have no plans to cash in. The Red Devils are aware the move may be unrealistic, especially if their transfer funds to end up being spent on Sesko, but are looking to gauge whether anything can be done in the coming weeks as Ruben Amorim seeks to further bolster his squad, reports the Athletic. United's current focus is on landing the Slovenian from RB Leipzig after they jumped ahead of Newcastle in the transfer race. There is an acceptance that any move, which could cost more than £70million, will make any swoop for the Brighton star very difficult. Barca confident on Rashford registration Barcelona president Joan Laporta is confident the club will be able to register Marcus Rashford and their other signings before the new season starts. The forward has joined Barcelona on a season-long loan. The deal includes a £26m option to buy and involves Barcelona paying his wages in full. There were concerns that Barcelona may not be able to register Rashford due to their financial struggles - but they have been addressed. "It's progressing well," Laporta told ESPN. "We're doing our job and we're confident that we'll be able to register everyone." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Edinburgh Reporter
an hour ago
- Edinburgh Reporter
Young Scots qualify for world cricket finals
A Scotland squad containing Stewart's Melville pair Olly Pillinger and Ram Sharma as well as Grange's Rory Grant have qualified for the world under-19 cricket finals in Zimbabwe and Namibia next year. Hosting the qualifying tournament on Tayside the young Scots reserved their place among the up and coming elite when they won a winner-take-all decider against the Netherlands by 20 runs. Batting first the Scots posted 237-8 with Olly Pillinger top scoring with 52and the Dutch were subsequently bowled out for 217. It was Scotland's fifth straight win in the qualifying competition. Photo by Jurie Maree on Like this: Like Related
Leader Live
2 hours ago
- Leader Live
Alexander Isak reports for Newcastle training after rest of squad leave
The 25-year-old Sweden international did not travel with his team-mates on their pre-season trip to Singapore and South Korea, ostensibly because of a minor thigh injury, after Liverpool, who subsequently tabled a £110million bid for him, let it be known they remained interested in acquiring his services. Isak, who later informed the club he wanted to explore his options this summer, instead flew to Spain to train at former club Real Sociedad and returned to Tyneside at the weekend, shortly before head coach Eddie Howe and his squad landed back from Seoul and were given two days off. The players were back at the training ground on Wednesday morning and their families were invited to join them after training. However, the PA news agency understands Isak, who reported back to the club's Benton base on Monday, was told not to come in until after they had left and was pictured arriving at around 1550. The £63million frontman has been a huge hit since his arrival from Sociedad during the summer of 2022 and played a key role last season as they ended their 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy with the Carabao Cup and qualified for the Champions League for the second time in three seasons. However questioned about his absence in South Korea, Howe signalled that his actions might have repercussions. The 47-year-old told reporters: 'You have to earn the right to train with us. We are Newcastle United. 'The player has a responsibility here to be part of a team and part of a squad – you have to act in the right way. So that is also at play here. 'We will make sure that any player earns the right to train with the group. No player can expect to act poorly and train with the group as normal.' Isak is understood to have undergone treatment and light training at a deserted training ground on Monday and it remains to be seen whether he will have any involvement in the club's pre-season fixtures against Espanyol and Atletico Madrid this weekend. The striker faces clear-the-air talks with Howe, with his situation becoming seemingly more complicated by the day as a difficult transfer window threatens to spiral further out of control. Newcastle tabled an improved club record bid for RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko on Monday in an effort to beat Manchester United to the punch, but developments since suggest the 22-year-old is more likely to head for Old Trafford than St James' Park. That would represent the latest blow in a transfer window which has already seen the Magpies miss out on major targets Dean Huijsen, Bryan Mbeumo, Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro, James Trafford and Liam Delap. They have managed to recruit Nottingham Forest wide man Anthony Elanga and, on loan, Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, but with frontman Callum Wilson and midfielder Sean Longstaff having left, there is significant work to be done, with the start of the new season just 10 days away. Howe was already looking for a striker before the Isak situation came to a head and, with three years remaining on the Swede's current deal – he has so far resisted the club's overtures to sign a new contract – there seems to be little prospect of the club allowing him to leave either before they have secured a replacement or for much less than their £150m valuation, having already rebuffed Liverpool's initial approach. Meanwhile, sources on Tyneside have played down suggestions that Newcastle have tabled a bid for AC Milan defender Malick Thiaw, but it is understood they are maintaining an interest in the Germany international.
