BRENDAN RODGERS is on course for his TWELFTH trophy and his third treble over the course of his two stints as Celtic manager.
The 52-year-old Irishman can complete another fabulous clean sweep if the holders win the Scottish Cup for the 43rd time in their illustrious history when they face Aberdeen at Hampden on Saturday May 24.
Before that, of course, the champions have four league games to play, starting at Ibrox on Sunday.
Former Hoops goal hero Chris Sutton insists Rodgers thrives on a challenge and a stronger Rangers team with potential investment from America may just be the test the Parkhead gaffer would relish.
ON THE BALL…Brendan Rodgers indulges in some impromptu keepy-uppy after Celtic had sealed their fourth successive title at Tannadice at the weekend.
As the one-time England international striker looked at the final all-Glasgow confrontation, he said: “Let’s be honest, Rangers should be ashamed to walk onto the park on Sunday trailing their rivals by 17 points with the title already gone, especially when you consider they have won the last two derbies.
“That’s an appalling state of affairs and mass change is needed.
“First of all, they need a manager who can entice signings in the door to aid the project. Barry Ferguson is not that man.
“Right now, Rangers need a stardust individual to make the club look appealing. Even if his overall record was weak, Steven Gerrard did manage that when he was there.
“Who is going to sign for Rangers right now in their current state? And if I was the likes of Nico Raskin and Vaclav Cerny, I’d be trying to get out of there, never mind hanging around.
“When I signed for Celtic, I signed for Martin O’Neill, to be honest. His vision, his words, his motivation. That attracted me and Rangers need to find one.
“Whatever happens, they simply have to get better next season because, at the moment, they are a shambles.
A BIG HAND…a beaming Brendan Rodgers applauds the Celtic fans after the Hoops’ title success at Rugby Park last season to mark his comeback season at the champions.
“They put up no fight to Celtic over the course of this season and a repeat of that next term would not be acceptable to their fans.
“At the same time, it might take some domestic edge off Rodgers.”
The team chief emphasised he was “200 per cent” certain to be in charge of Celtic next season in the final year of the contract he signed in June 2023.
Movement across Glasgow may just entice Rodgers to agree an extension to meet and overcome resistance to his silverware supremacy.
Sutton, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “The Rangers fans are getting excited about the investment coming from the USA.
“Yet, if those dollars bring a much-needed improvement at Ibrox, it might just play a massive role in ensuring that Celtic keep their most-successful living manager for even longer.
”Rodgers is a magnificent manager. The facts are staring you in the face in terms of trophies and don’t need to be repeated.
THE WAY AHEAD…a vocal Brendan Rodgers makes a point.
“The fact he has managed to make proper progress in the Champions League is another major tick in his box. He said he was going back to Celtic to do just that and he has managed with the intention of building on it again next season.
“But I can’t help but think it’s just as well there was the enthralling challenge of Europe’s highest level this season for Rodgers because, domestically, it can’t be overly easy to get driven.
“No manager will get tired of winning trophies. If it’s anything like it felt for me as a player, it’s an incredible high.
“But where Celtic are at just now is just not normal. When the Celtic team I played in won a treble in 2001, it was seen as an astonishing feat.
“It was just the third time in 113 years. Now Celtic are one game away from winning six more in nine seasons.
“Rodgers and captain Callum McGregor have spoken about how Celtic have normalised this scenario and it’s brilliant for them.
“However, I don’t care how good it is, there is surely only so often you can keep doing the same things before it loses some of its lustre.
“Celtic winning a title is seen as routine now. That’s ridiculous. It’s not and never should be routine.”
SEALED WITH A KISS…Brendan Rodgers at Tannadice after his fourth Celtic title success.
Sutton added: “Rodgers is a man who clearly loves a challenge. I’d assume that’s why he was prepared to take the flak he was going to get by going back because he had the drive to win more trophies and try and make his club relevant on the European scene again.
“That hunger is only going to be heightened in the summer and the manager will be chomping at the bit to get back in there and win more games at the elite level.
“My question is: How far would the satisfaction of that task and challenge take a manager like Rodgers without any weekend-to-weekend edge?
“Only he can answer that. He has already said no-one knows what he’s thinking or how he feels and he also stated he’s never been happier in his coaching life.
“But, if Celtic go in again next season and clean up domestically with another year of no challenge from Ibrox, does it ever get a bit samey for him?
“I reckon a fierce challenge from across Glasgow would do a lot to keep the fires of an ambitious coach burning.”
