Paul Merson has argued that Brendan Rodgers had done his job at Celtic and couldn’t turn down an opportunity to return to the Premier League.
The manager left the Hoops earlier this week to take over the vacant position at the King Power Stadium, much to the disappointment of many Bhoys fans.
But Merson has suggested that a move south of the border was too tempting to walk away from.
Speaking on Sky Sports News, he said: “I’m a big fan of Brendan Rodgers, I’m probably one of his biggest fans. I think they’re fortunate Leicester, I really do.
“I thought he might get a phone call off Chelsea you know, just saying sit there for three months at Celtic, see what happens. He gives kids a chance, he plays the right way.
“Would you leave Celtic to come to Leicester? It’s the league, you’re coming to the best league in the world. You go on holiday this year, doesn’t matter where you go in the world, everybody’s going to know who you are. Everybody watches it.
“For me, he’s done his job at Celtic, I think it’s a great opportunity. I’m not being horrible here, but I think he could have got better than Leicester in the long run.”
VIDEO@SkyFootball analyst Paul Merson thinks @LCFC are fortunate to have secured Brendan Rodgers as manager, & feels he could have moved to an even bigger club, following his departure from @CelticFC this week https://t.co/AVhGYTiAGy
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) March 1, 2019
OPINION
It’s a bitter pill for Celtic fans to swallow, but Merson is probably right, although Rodgers’ timing leaves a lot to be desired. It was fairly obvious that yje manager was coming to the end of what he could feasibly achieve in Glasgow, and a move has been touted for a little while now, but the manner in which he just upped and left, with his side so close to a historic title treble, is somewhat surprising. Admittedly, his hand was forced a little by Leicester’s decision to sack Claude Puel midseason, but you would have been justified in assuming that Rodgers would have wanted to stick around to see out his monumental success at Parkhead. As it is, he has plummeted from hero to zero in unprecedented time, and while he may be looked back on fondly when the pain wears off a little, for the foreseeable future, having been the Hoops’ darling just a week ago, he is public enemy number one.