The Northern Irishman joked: “I haven’t put a foot wrong here! Brilliant.
“It shows you what the world of football is now, the gossip and speculation that goes on.
“I’ve just landed my dream job. The team I’ve supported all my life. I haven’t even walked out for my first game.
“Imagine me as a Celtic supporter having walked out on the job at Parkhead!”
“I see Jose Mourinho has also been linked with it. He’s unbeaten, too!
“I’ll be at Celtic, that’s for sure.
“But I’m busy here, worrying about what I have to do here.”
Rodgers admitted his delight at making Moussa Dembele his first signing and he is plotting to land more new recruits ahead of the Champions League qualifiers in two week’s time. Experienced Ivorian international defender Kolo Toure, released by Liverpool at the end of the season, is one option being considered. Republic of Ireland centre-back Shane Duffy, of Blackburn Rovers, is another – as CQN revealed on Saturday.
Rodgers said: “If there is not an agreement, that will obviously just run out.
“If it happens, we’d like him to be with us sooner rather than later. But he’s out of contract and within his rights.
“There is always obviously a fear for a player when they come out of contract, if they train and get injured, they could be snookered. So, I respect that and understand that completely.“He seems a good guy, I’ve talked to him on the phone and people I’ve talked to around the club like him.
“But, obviously, it’s probably the last contract of his career, so he has to make sure he’s making the right choice for him and his family.”Rodgers has settled in to Celtic’s Slovenia base and he admitted he’s relishing his chance to get down to work with the players.
“There are obviously players I was more aware of than others. Then there are ones like Kristoffer Ajer, 18 years old and 6ft 5in, but athletic and can play football.
“I have been pleased by the standard and how they take on board what we give them.”
Rodgers is keeping tabs on Celtic’s potential Champions League opponents and received reports on Tallinn’s 2-1 first leg win against Lincoln Red Imps.
He said: “I think the Tallinn team were pretty comfortable, could have scored four or five in the first half – and they maybe then took the foot off the gas in the second-half.
“It leaves it a bit tricky for them at 2-1, but we had people there watching them and analysing. We will be ready for whoever we have to play.”
