Brendan Rodgers Responds with Class to Rangers Fans Over Celtic’s 58-Year Champions League Drought

In the ever-fiery rivalry between Celtic and Rangers, few jabs sting as sharply as those rooted in history. Recently, following Celtic’s valiant but ultimately unsuccessful UEFA Champions League campaign, rival Rangers supporters were quick to point out that it has now been 58 years since Celtic lifted a major European trophy  the famed European Cup of 1967.

But in the face of that reminder, manager Brendan Rodgers offered a composed, inspiring response that earned praise across the footballing world.

Rodgers, in his typical calm and thoughtful manner, refused to be rattled.

“We Know Our History But We’re Building the Future”

Addressing the comment in a press conference, Rodgers responded with poise and perspective.

“Yes, it’s been 58 years since Celtic won the European Cup,” he acknowledged. “That victory in Lisbon is etched into the soul of this club, and we’re proud of what the ‘Lisbon Lions’ achieved. But football doesn’t live in the past. It’s played in the present, and our eyes are firmly on the future.”

Rodgers went on to highlight the club’s current trajectory in Europe  not as a team simply participating, but as one striving to compete seriously with Europe’s elite.

“This season showed how far we’ve come,” he continued. “We didn’t just show up  we played with intensity, we were organized, and we went toe-to-toe with some of the best teams on the continent. If you watched us against Bayern, against Leipzig, against Atalanta you saw a team with courage and quality.”

A Season of Progress, Not Regret

Though Celtic’s campaign ended without silverware, it marked one of their most promising European seasons in recent memory. They finished second in their group and advanced to the knockout stages for the first time in over a decade. The team’s tactical discipline, defensive resilience, and attacking flair were on full display a far cry from the early exits that have haunted recent campaigns.

Rodgers sees this as part of a larger process one that doesn’t hinge solely on trophies but on building a team capable of consistent European success.

“Of course, everyone wants to win trophies,” he said. “But to get there, you need structure, belief, and experience. This squad is learning, evolving, and taking big steps forward. That’s what excites me. That’s what should excite our supporters.”

While rival fans continue to throw historical jabs, Rodgers emphasized that such talk doesn’t derail Celtic’s vision  if anything, it strengthens it.

“Every big club faces this kind of scrutiny,” he said. “It’s part of the game. Our job isn’t to trade words. It’s to work, to improve, and to represent Celtic with pride and ambition on the European stage.”

Rodgers also praised the Celtic supporters, who have stood by the team through highs and lows. He made clear that their backing is a driving force behind the team’s continued push for glory.

“The fans are everything. They remember ’67 not just as a trophy win, but as a symbol of identity and belief. That’s what we’re trying to recreate  not just another win, but a moment that unites everyone around this great club.”

Looking ahead, Rodgers confirmed the club is already planning for next season’s European challenge. With key players developing well and potential summer reinforcements on the horizon, he believes the gap between Celtic and Europe’s elite is narrowing.

“We’re not far away,” he said. “We have the talent, the infrastructure, and the mentality. If we stay on this path, it’s only a matter of time before Celtic returns to the top table of European football.”

In the face of pointed reminders and bitter rival banter, Brendan Rodgers once again showed why he’s the right man to lead Celtic forward. His dignified response to Rangers fans’ reminder of Celtic’s 58-year Champions League drought didn’t just defuse the moment  it reframed it.

For Rodgers and for Celtic, the past is a source of pride, not pressure. And while 1967 remains a golden chapter in the club’s history, the current ambition is clear: to create a new era of success that future generations will celebrate for decades to come.