With his side now eyeing up a sixth Treble in nine years, Brendan Rodgers is aware of a narrative developing. One that says trophies lose their lustre when collecting them becomes a matter of routine.
The Celtic manager understands why it’s a theory that might gain traction. He contends, however, that the reality couldn’t be more different.
‘Obviously, when you are on this winning run, this era that we’re in, then it can be deemed tedious and all the words that are used, but it’s absolutely not,’ he said.
‘I can tell you that, of all the clubs I’ve ever been at, this is the biggest, most pressurised job, and that’s because you cannot afford to lose a game of football.
‘When I left Liverpool the first time we came here, because of my job there and what I enjoyed about it, I knew that my next job needed to be pressure, otherwise it would feel like a holiday.
‘Coming to Celtic and experiencing it like I did for the first time, it was absolutely no holiday. It’s pressure, so, dealing with that, I think I thrive in that situation.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers insists he hasn’t lost his appetite for success at the club
Celtic were crowned Premiership champions for the 13th time in 14 years last weekend
The supporters are dreaming of clinching another domestic Treble at Hampden later this month
‘So, then coming back to here, and especially how I came back that first six months, it wasn’t all singing and all dancing.
‘It was back to… well, you’ve got to show yourself here, and that’s what I enjoy.
‘Any team that’s out there, they’ll get a pass for a draw, they’ll get a pass for a win. Sometimes, we don’t even get a pass for a win. We can get a win and be booed off.
‘So, that relentless nature, that’s what I love about the job. The expectation of the support base is to always be better, to always improve, and that drives you forward.
‘You can never just rest on your laurels here.’
Rodgers has no issue with the unforgiving nature of the environment in which he’s immersed.
‘Every single day of your life you have to be on it, you have to be really focused, you have to be prepared.
‘You know the other team are going to give that extra 10-15 per cent physically and mentally. Every time you operate as a Celtic player, a manager, you’re managing a final scenario.
This season’s Premier Sports Cup final against Rangers was decided on penalties
Hamza Igamane came off the bench to net a late winner for Rangers in the last Old Firm derby
‘That’s why you see players come here, some really good players, but they struggle because of the mentality needed to survive. It’s a real challenge.’
It’s plainly not for everyone. At this point in Rodgers’ life, though, the incessant pressure of the job is exactly what he desires.
‘I think I need that challenge, absolutely, especially in this period in my career and what I’ve experienced now.
‘I can be no good if I’m comfortable and I would never get to be that in here.
‘I enjoy that challenge of proving people wrong. There will always be something else to improve or to prove in the role. If I don’t have it, I find it from somewhere and that’s what allows me to be the best I can be.’
He has not had to look far for an edge since the dust began to settle on last weekend’s title win at Tannadice.
Rodgers’ record in matches against Rangers remains astonishing. He lost just one of his first 20 derbies across two spells.
While his team’s unassailable position in the Premiership ensured there was no real drama when his side sustained back-to-back losses to the Ibrox men in January and March, you’d better believe he was hurt by them.
‘This is a game that is all about pride. We’ve proved our point over the course of this season in terms of our performance level and consistency.
‘We are fighting for the pride of our team and also for our supporters because we lost the last game at Ibrox, deservedly so.
‘We shouldn’t have lost the game at home, but we did, and we have to make that right in the last game.
‘I hear the talk up here about meaningless games. There’s never that. There’s never a meaningless Celtic-Rangers game, or there’s nothing in the game.
‘There’s everything in this game. Everything. So, we have to go and prove that on the field.’
Before the 3-2 home defeat to Barry Ferguson’s side in March, Rodgers offered a view of Rangers as a side who lacked consistency. Nothing he’s seen since has altered that opinion.
Rodgers believes Barry Ferguson has united the Rangers fans and the club since taking over
‘I think what Barry has done is help connect the supporters and the club,’ he said. ‘He’s a player who had a great career there.
‘The challenge for Barry and his staff probably coming in is that it’s a different generation of player that you’re working with to when they would have played and even coached a number of years back.
‘So, the generation of player now is totally different and they’ll demand a greater standard and consistency.
‘They’ve played well in games, and then other games they’ll have wanted to have done better in.’
Rodgers remains perplexed that the annual debate over a guard of honour for the newly crowned champions still provokes supporters to the extent that it does.
‘It’s not a rule, that’s the first thing I would say,’ he said
‘And I think that when two clubs in the rivalry are so emotional, it’s always difficult for the team that comes up short. So, it’s one that I’m relaxed either way on it.’
