Martin O'Neill cracks Celtic story Brendan Rodgers refuses to tell as he backs boss amid interview storm

O'Neill insists he would have answered the same question the same way as he floats Rangers overtaking theory.

Martin O'Neill reckons he's cracked the Celtic story plot Brendan Rodgers claims has already been written about his side, but refused to elaborate on in a spiky post match interview. And O'Neill has BACKED the Hoops boss, insisting he would have answered the same way.

Rodgers claimed that a "story had already been written" about his team and that they were going to write their own. When pressed on what he meant by that, Rodgers told BBC Scotland reporter Jane Lewis "you know what I mean" and then asked "are we done here?" before saying "good girl" and walking off.

Offering his thoughts on what Rodgers meant by his story theory, O'Neill admitted he was glad Rodgers got prickly and said he would have answered the same question in the same way. And he suggested that the focus should have been on the fact that Celtic had won the game, rather than "rushing" to judgements that Rangers had surpassed them. He told talkSPORT: “I think that Celtic have been dominant for so long now that people are starting to think that Rangers haven’t only closed the gap but actually gone past them.

"You’re talking about the immediate aftermath of a game that Celtic have won by the way. They didn’t play so well in the first half but came roaring back and won the game, which is the most important thing.

"The gap could have stayed at five points, suddenly it’s back to two and there’s a title race on, which from an outside view point, is good for the game in Scotland. However, what I think Brendan was saying was, that people are rushing to conclusions and judgement that Rangers are going to overtake them this season, and that they have their own story still to write.

"I’m actually pleased too that he got a bit prickly, because I’m telling you, the press guys will do your brain in at times. They’re looking for it. Are there interviews done that I've regretted? Only about 15,000. You go down a route and think where is this going? So I was really pleased that he got prickly about it.”

Rodgers has come under fire for his "good girl" comment, with the Scottish Feminist Network branded him a "dinosaur," but the talkSPORT panel brushed past that aspect.

White said: “That’s it. And then saying ‘good girl’ at the end. Brendan, I'm sure, meant nothing of that. In no way did he mean to make it sound patronising, although there’s a narrative building there that it was somewhat patronising.”

Jordan: “Another narrative by those that have an agenda that will turn it into ‘Oh here he is, being patronising and condescending about a woman.’ It was like when Brian Clough turned to Don Revie in the middle of a famous interview and said ‘good lad.’

White: “That was many years ago.”

Jordan: “That doesn't make any difference.”

White: “I would have quite liked to have heard Brendan elaborate a bit.”

Jordan: “I’m sure you would but there’s a good reason why he didn't want to, you're missing the point and you're refusing to acknowledge.”

White: “Don’t put it out there then.”