Manager refused to answer question over his claim that a ‘story is being written’ about Celtic
Following his brusque response to a female reporter’s inquiries, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has come under fire, referring to her as a “good girl.”
The former manager of Liverpool ended his post-match interview with Jane Lewis of the BBC when she questioned him about remarks he had made following his team’s dramatic victory over Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership.
After Celtic finished the day four points behind Rangers in the title race, Rodgers seemed displeased that it took goals from substitutes Adam Idah and Luis Palma in stoppage time to break the tie.
After the event, Rodgers said to Lewis, “There’s a story being written about this group, but we will write our own story.”
Rodgers responded, “You know exactly what I mean,” to Lewis’s question, “You don’t want to give us a bit more insight into what you mean by that?”
Lewis retorted, holding her position, “I’m not sure I do know exactly what you mean. Could you please inform us? People could find out with interest.
“No, no, no,” interrupted Rodgers several times before Lewis spoke, asking, “But you’re the one bringing that up, so can you not give us some more on it?”
Rodgers abruptly stopped talking to her and asked, “Okay? Completed. Well done, girl. Excellent work.
A clip of the interaction, which Lewis and his BBC Scotland coworker laughed off, was later shared on social media.
Despite losing both of this season’s Old Firm matches, Rangers leads the standings by two points, making Rodgers’ second stint at Celtic a greater challenge than his first.
The Parkhead manager who previously oversaw Leicester City and Liverpool is not the first to have a run-in with a female reporter; in 2009, Gordon Strachan warned one that she would not comprehend his team’s shocking cup loss to St Mirren.
“It’s impossible to explain to you,” stated Strachan. It would be like you giving me an explanation of childbirth.
David Moyes was called out by Sunderland supporters in 2017 for allegedly threatening to hit a female reporter during an interview.
“Just watch yourself, it was getting a little bit naughty at the end there,” Moyes warned BBC journalist Vicki Sparks as the camera continued to roll. Even though you’re a woman, you could still receive a slap. The next time you visit, take extra care.
