Aberdeen’s former chief Keith Wyness has claimed Brendan Rodgers would have been sacked if Celtic failed to win the Scottish Premiership.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Aberdeen between 2000 and 2004, had lengthy spells as the chief of Everton and Aston Villa and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – claimed attention will now turn to making the Hoops competitive in the Champions League, where they have “a mountain to climb” to the top sides.
Celtic lifted the Scottish Premiership title on Wednesday (15 May) with one game to spare after winning 5-0 away at Kilmarnock.
They had beaten title rivals Rangers 2-1 at Parkhead just days earlier, effectively ending their chances of beating them to the title.
Philippe Clement’s side had led the race as recently as March, but Celtic won seven of their last eight games to triumph.
Rodgers escapes Celtic sack after title win, says Wyness
Wyness told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “It was another great Old Firm game which ultimately proved very important for the title.
“If they had not won the league this year, I think Rodgers would have gone, been sacked.
“Now, he’s the hero – and they’ve got to get it right for the Champions League, which is the big challenge every year.
Rodgers has got to get it right next year in terms of getting his squad to peak at the right times to be competitive in Europe and domestically.
“There’s no doubt that he’s a good manager, he’s been through it already.
“He will know there is a mountain to climb in the Champions League, but I expect him to be given more resources.”