FANS STUNNED BY BRENDAN RODGERS TWEET JUST MINUTES AFTER 3–1 CELTIC FC VICTORY OVER RANGERS, IT’S GOING VIRAL ALREADY
Celtic fans were still celebrating their 3–1 victory over Rangers when a single tweet from former manager Brendan Rodgers sent shockwaves through social media. The final whistle had barely blown before Rodgers, who left the club barely a week ago, posted a short but mysterious message that has already gone viral and left supporters guessing what he really meant.
The post appeared on Rodgers’ verified account just minutes after the Old Firm showdown at Hampden Park, a match that saw Celtic overpower their fiercest rivals to book a place in the Scottish League Cup semi Final. His message contained only a few words, but that was enough to light up fan forums and news feeds across Scotland. There was no clear reference to the match, no emojis, and no congratulations for his former players. Instead, it was the timing and tone of the tweet that sent fans into meltdown.
Supporters quickly began dissecting every possible meaning behind Rodgers’ post. Some interpreted it as a subtle dig at the Celtic board following his controversial departure, while others thought it was a veiled show of criticism toward the squad’s mentality.
The tweet read: “Funny how standards suddenly rise when the pressure’s off. Criticised for not trusting certain players, yet I am gone but criticism never stop. suddenly the team can play. Football’s full of short memories.” Within minutes, it had been shared thousands of times and was trending across Scotland.
“Why tweet right after the win unless you want attention?” one fan wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Another added, “He could have just said congratulations. Instead, we’re all guessing what he’s on about again.” Within minutes, screenshots of the tweet were being shared across fan pages, group chats and football banter accounts, with the phrase “Brendan’s Back?” trending among Celtic supporters.
The 3–1 victory itself was a statement of intent from Celtic. After a difficult start to the season and weeks of off-field tension, the Hoops delivered a commanding performance against a Rangers side reduced to ten men before half-time.
The match was significant not just for the scoreline, but for the mood it created around the club. Interim boss Martin O’Neill, who stepped in after Rodgers’ resignation last week, looked visibly emotional on the touchline as the players celebrated.
His words after the game summed up the feeling of renewal inside the Celtic camp. “The boys played with passion, with freedom, and with pride in the badge. That’s what it means to wear this shirt,” he told reporters.
Rodgers’ exit had left deep divisions within the Celtic fanbase. His second spell in charge began with optimism but quickly turned sour after a string of disappointing results and reported disagreements with the club’s hierarchy. Many fans accused him of losing his connection with the team and failing to bring through young talent. His sudden departure had been met with mixed emotions: relief for some, betrayal for others, and confusion for everyone in between.
Now, just days later, his unexpected tweet has reopened old wounds. Football pundits have also joined the discussion, with several suggesting that Rodgers’ timing was deliberate.
Former Celtic player Chris Sutton commented during a live broadcast,
“If Brendan didn’t mean to cause a stir, he picked the worst possible moment to post anything. He knows exactly how this fanbase reacts.”
Others, however, have defended Rodgers, pointing out that his message could have been harmless or even misunderstood. “People are reading too much into it,” one sports journalist wrote. “Maybe it was just a coincidence. Maybe he was simply reacting to football in general. The man can’t breathe without causing controversy at this point.”
Whatever his intent, there is no denying that Rodgers’ words have added another twist to an already dramatic season for Celtic. As the club prepares for the League Cup Final, fans are now more united behind their current squad than they have been in months. For many, the victory over Rangers was about more than just advancing to another final it symbolised a fresh start after the turbulence of the Rodgers era.
Still, the question remains: was the former boss’s tweet an olive branch, a taunt, or a calculated jab? Only Rodgers himself knows the truth, and so far, he has not offered any clarification. His post remains pinned at the top of his feed, continuing to attract thousands of comments and reactions.
In the passionate world of Scottish football, timing is everything. And for Brendan Rodgers, whose legacy at Celtic is already a story of triumph and tension, one short tweet has ensured that his name remains on every fan’s lips, even when he is no longer in the dugout.
