Brendan Rodgers tipped to make Celtic fans forget about him leaving the first time – he’s got that ‘special something’

NADIR CIFTCI got Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic reign off the mark.

Now the former Hoops striker reckons his old gaffer is the perfect man to take over from Ange Postecoglou.

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Brendan Rodgers is close to a sensational Celtic returnCredit: Getty

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Nadir Ciftci was part of the earlyCredit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun Glasgow

Ciftci netted in a 2-2 draw with Slovenian side Celje in Rodgers’ first pre-season friendly.

And he admits he knew from day one with the ex-Liverpool boss that something special was about to happen at Parkhead.

It might have had a false start in the Champions League qualifier with a 1-0 defeat to minnows Lincoln Red Imps.

Ciftci expected a rollicking — but Rodgers’ calmness lifted the pressure off the squad.

And they repaid him by sealing a 3-0 second-leg win, and then ended up qualifying for the group stages for the first time in three seasons.

Postecoglou lifted five trophies out of six during his two-season stint in charge and Ciftci is backing Rodgers to maintain Celtic’s domestic dominance.

He said: “From the first day Brendan came in, I had the feeling that he was the right man for the club.

“The amount of trophies he won showed I was right to think like that.

“The way he spoke, the way he made you feel and his training sessions were all incredible.

“We were in pre-season in Slovenia and you just felt something special was going to happen that year.

“It was hard work but he made you feel comfortable.

“It is hard to explain exactly what he does to make you feel that way, but he has a special something.

“Brendan gives you a lot of confidence when he speaks to you and you want to repay him. His man-management skills are superb and he’s a great communicator.

“When he came in, he managed to get us into the Champions League group stages for the first time in three years.

“It was a great achievement considering we lost to Lincoln Red Imps in his first match.

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Nadir Ciftci was a veteran of the defeat to Lincoln Red ImpsCredit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun Glasgow

“I can still remember the game and it was a horrible result.

“No disrespect to them but a club like Celtic shouldn’t be losing to a team like Red Imps.

“We were ashamed when we got off the park.

“For a club like Celtic and all the success we’d had, we shouldn’t be losing that game.

“It can happen in football and I was worrying about how Brendan would react.

“But he came into the dressing room and he was so calm about everything — and that actually helped.

“I don’t remember him ever going crazy in the dressing room, even if things weren’t going the way he wanted.

“He looked for solutions instead of just shouting at us and losing his mind.

“That can put you under more pressure as a player.

“Brendan was never like that. He took the pressure off you and explained what we could do better to improve.

“He was always calm and he is a very intelligent man.

“In the past, some managers would shout and scream at you if things weren’t going right, but that wasn’t Brendan’s way.

“We ended up having an incredible season and winning the first of his Trebles.

“Everyone knows what Brendan brings to the table.

“He knows what the expectations are at Celtic and the success he had in his first spell was incredible with the treble Treble.

“If he comes back to Celtic, then I am confident he can do it all again.

“The players will know about Brendan and everyone at the club knows how good he is.

“As a person, he was great for me, even though my time at Celtic didn’t work out the way I hoped.

“But it wasn’t down to Brendan, the way he was with me was great.

“The way he handled the players was superb. In fact, his man-management was always first class.

“He has big shoes to fill as Ange did so well in his two years in charge and he is a legend at the club.

“But Brendan is a legend already and I have no doubts that he will continue that on and keep Celtic as a successful club.”

Some Hoops fans are delighted to welcome back the man who walked out for Leicester City in February 2019, while others are far from amused.

Ciftci knows it might take a section of supporters time to forgive Rodgers for turning his back on them.

But he reckons success on the park will make them forget his exit four years ago.

The 31-year-old, who also played for Dundee United, Motherwell and St Johnstone, added: “If some fans don’t want Brendan back, that’s not a problem.

“Fans are passionate about Celtic and they think with their hearts and they can be emotional.

“But if he comes back, then I have no doubt that he will bring even more success to the club.

“I think he will make them forget about him leaving the first time.

“In football, moments come in life when you feel you have to take it and you do it without thinking.

“You think it is the right club for you, but looking back you realise it wasn’t what you needed at that time.

“Brendan went to Leicester mid-season and for some fans it might be hard for them to accept at first.

“But things happen for a reason and sometimes you make decisions that aren’t all about football.

“Sometimes they work out and sometimes they don’t. That’s just life.

“Brendan brought some unbelievable success to the club and he can again.

“Holding a grudge against Brendan won’t help.

“Everyone has to back him and give him all the support — and if they do that, then I am sure he will deliver for the club again.”

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