Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has insisted that he still excited with the challenges at the Parkhead club after being named among the bookies’ favourites to replace Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.
The news yesterday morning that Frenchman Wenger will bring down the curtain on his 22-year association with Arsenal resulted in swift speculation around Rodgers taking over the post.
The Celtic manager has has maintained that while there will be a natural end to his time in Glasgow he doesn’t envisage it being any time soon.
Parkhead majority shareholder Dermot Desmond insisted that the choice will ultimately come down to Rodgers about the next step in his professional career and maintained that he would not stand in the way of any negotiations with the London club.
"He's an outstanding person and we wouldn't like him to leave,” said Desmond.
"But we can't force anybody to stay and hopefully his love for the club, and the setup there, will induce him to stay at Celtic.
"I don't think you can put handcuffs on anybody if they want to go to a club as good as Arsenal. But it'll be Brendan's decision and Brendan's decision only."
There is a perception that the apparent ease with which Rodgers has overseen a dominant Celtic side will create a malaise within the current Parkhead manager, but the 45-year-old has stressed his hunger to continue what he started at the club.
“When you do well nowadays, everyone tries to push you on,” he said. “There may be a point in my time here when I think I’ve done absolutely everything. That’s not now.
Read more: Celtic's Callum McGregor ready for title party at Easter Road
“There are still challenges for me here that can really test you to the limit.
“It’s also about happiness. If you look at the modern game, when you are happy you can work well.”
Rodgers is just one game away from delivering a back-to-back Treble at Celtic that would make him unique in the Scottish game. The title can be won at Easter Road tomorrow with a victory over Hibs but aside from the silverware that Rodgers is clocking up, he has reiterated that he wishes to leave a legacy at the Parkhead club.
Rodgers believes there is ample work to do at Celtic but his revolve may be rested should there be concrete interest from the Emirates.
“It’s a bigger picture for me,” he said. “I’m living the dream here and one day it will finish. However that is and whenever that is, I don’t know. Then I’ll go back into the real world again.
“But while I’m here, I want to give it the very best I can and try to create a standard and legacy here that will make people look back and say ‘You know, he did alright - for a supporter’.
“Of course the priority for me is to help the team, to win and try to inspire the supporters, to give them as many great moments as I can.”
Rodgers has gone ten games undefeated against Rangers, whom Celtic will host next weekend, but the Hoops boss has maintained he isn’t bored of winning just yet.
“There are other sides of the club I want to help,” he said. “It’s a bigger spectrum for me. Football is my job, that’s what I’m paid to do.
“But can I help and support other elements of the club to grow? I don’t get tired of that.
“We just won a big semi-final, playing really well. Compared to some of those other games we played when I first came in, it is night and day in terms of the difference.
“I can see development and improvement. If you beat your great rival 4-0 and play so well, keeping your supporters happy, you don’t get tired of that.”
In contrast to the ease with which Rodgers has led Celtic to dominance domestically has been the testing environment of the UEFA Champions League. The financial rewards for getting the club through the treacherous qualification route and into the group stages was laid bare this week with the release of the £27.6m that Celtic banked from their participation but closing the gap in that arena is next on Rodgers to-do list.
“That’s a huge test with everything that’s against us now at European level. That’s a massive challenge,” said the Celtic manager.
“For countries like Scotland, it’s getting further and further away - resources, opportunities in Europe. So can we meet that challenge in the best way we can?
“There are other things as well within the club we want to develop and improve. The board have made me a big part of that. I really enjoy that side.
“We are talking about an indoor training area, the proposed hotel. I never lose sight of the fact my focus is on football but they ask for my opinion and help on lots of things within the operation.
“It’s because of the intellect of the board. We have a great relationship, there are no grey areas. We communicate well. There are lots of things to improve at the club and I enjoy being part of that.
“I’m the type that likes to see development and growth, whether it is on the field or off it.
“My job is to try and cultivate that within the football and everything else can grow from there. It’s exciting.”
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