BRENDAN RODGERS ATTACKS POPULAR DAZN JOURNALIST: ‘NEVER TALK ABOUT ME AND CELTIC AGAIN’ AFTER HER QUESTION ON RANGERS BEING “MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN CELTIC FC”
Tensions flared in Glasgow today as Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers clashed publicly with DAZN journalist Diletta Leotta following a question that struck a nerve after Celtic’s morning training session. The incident, which quickly went viral on social media, occurred during a routine media appearance outside training centre, where Rodgers was addressing the press ahead of the upcoming fixtures.
The confrontation began when Leotta, who has been covering Scottish football this season for an international DAZN feature, asked Rodgers about the growing narrative that Rangers have been “more successful” than Celtic in recent years. The question appeared to be in reference to Rangers’ improved domestic form and strong showings in Europe, including their 2022 UEFA Europa League final appearance.
Rodgers, visibly agitated, interrupted before Leotta could finish:
“Don’t ever talk about me and Celtic like that again. I don’t know where you’re getting your facts, but they’re wrong. This club has done more in the last decade than most clubs in Europe. Be respectful.”
He continued, raising his voice slightly:
“I don’t engage in media-created narratives that ignore facts and history. What we’ve built here is success. So if you’re here to stir things up for clicks, you’re in the wrong place.”
The abrupt outburst caught reporters off guard. Leotta, maintaining professionalism, did not respond, but the DAZN camera crew quickly wrapped up the segment and left the facility shortly afterward. Celtic’s PR staff attempted to de-escalate the situation, but the clip had already made its way online, igniting a firestorm on both Celtic and Rangers fan pages.
Rodgers’ reaction likely stems from increasing pressure following a mixed season for Celtic. While the team remains competitive in the Scottish Premiership, they were recently eliminated from Europe earlier than expected. Meanwhile, Rangers under new management have begun to close the domestic gap and are currently ahead in the title race.
The manager has often defended his squad’s achievements since returning to the club, reminding media and fans of Celtic’s dominance over the past decade, including multiple trebles and consistent Champions League appearances. Today’s confrontation was arguably the most public sign yet of Rodgers’ frustration with how the narrative has shifted in Scottish football media.
Reactions from fans have been divided. Celtic supporters applauded Rodgers’ defense of the club, with one fan on X (formerly Twitter) writing:
“Rodgers was absolutely right to shut that down. You don’t question Celtic’s success especially not in front of him.”
Others, however, felt the manager overreacted, with some suggesting the pressure of the title race may be getting to him.
Rangers fans, unsurprisingly, found humor in the exchange, circulating memes and editing the clip with sarcastic captions like, “Triggered by Truth?”
DAZN has yet to release an official statement regarding the incident, but sources close to the network say Leotta was “shocked but unfazed” and has “no intention of escalating the matter.”
A DAZN spokesperson privately told reporters:
“Diletta asked a fair question, and she did so respectfully. Journalists should never be attacked for doing their job, especially not when they’re asking about widely discussed football topics.”
Celtic will host Aberdeen this weekend in a must-win match if they are to keep pace with Rangers in the league standings. All eyes will now be on Rodgers not just for his team’s performance, but for how he handles further media scrutiny in the days to come.
The fallout from today’s clash may not end here, and with the Old Firm rivalry intensifying both on and off the pitch, Scottish football is once again in the spotlight for reasons both sporting and sensational.
