Steven Pressley has shared further detail on Brendan Rodgers’ final period at Celtic, offering a clearer picture of the mood around the former manager as pressure quietly increased behind the scenes.
The defeat to Dundee mattered for more than the scoreline alone. Celtic were finding it hard to carry European performances into league form, and the gap at the top of the table was starting to grow.
For Rodgers, that frustration was beginning to show, both in what he said publicly and in how he appeared.
Pressley’s insight stands out because it comes from another manager who spoke with Rodgers privately before the match.
That setting is important. Instead of reacting to post-match comments, Pressley is describing a moment that happened away from the spotlight, before the result increased attention and debate.
It supports the view that Rodgers’ exit was not triggered by one game or one decision.
Rather, it came after ongoing issues had built up over time, with the Dundee defeat adding to pressure that was already there rather than creating it on its own.
He said: (Scottish Sun), “He’s a hugely experienced manager, and actually Brendan was in my office prior to the game. We sat and had a coffee because he’s a manager that I do admire and he’s got a wealth of knowledge.
“So we spoke for some time, and I could sense when he was in my office prior to the game that there was some frustrations, that he wasn’t entirely happy about certain things.
“So, was I absolutely shocked by that? Not completely. I think he had a number of issues and concerns. But let’s not forget what a good job he did.”
Pressley’s words give a fuller picture of Rodgers during that period. Instead of portraying him as distant or defensive, they point to a manager who was heavily involved and weighed down by problems that had not been resolved.
The frustration Pressley noticed fits with how Rodgers came across in public shortly afterwards.
That view matters because it pushes back against the idea that Rodgers’ comments after the Dundee defeat appeared without warning.
They can instead be seen as the release of pressure that had already been building, coming to the surface when results and expectations clashed.
There is also a clear note of respect in what Pressley says. Even as the opposing manager, he makes a point of recognising Rodgers’ experience and past success.
That tone keeps the comments measured and avoids turning them into criticism.
For Celtic supporters, this background may feel familiar. Rodgers’ final weeks were shaped by tension around performances and results, alongside an awareness of what he had previously achieved at the club. Pressley’s remarks reflect that mixed picture rather than trying to reduce it to a single narrative.
The comments also underline how pressure on managers often grows out of sight.
Issues discussed privately and doubts about direction tend to stay hidden until results bring them into view. When that happens, the strain has usually been present for some time.
With hindsight, the defeat to Dundee and the loss at Hearts are now seen as part of a wider decline rather than isolated setbacks.
Taken together, these reflections show how managerial departures are rarely as sudden as they seem.
Pressley’s account adds depth to the understanding of Rodgers’ exit, giving a sense of a manager nearing the end of his Celtic spell while still acknowledging the impact of his work.
Keep Reading
