Brendan Rodgers: Celtic have earned financial advantage with continued success

Brendan Rodgers responded to claims that Celtic have a financial advantage over their rivals by insisting “we have earned it”.

Ahead of this weekend’s League Cup final, Rangers manager Philippe Clement pointed to the financial disparity between the sides with recent figures released showing a growing chasm in the bank balances of both clubs.

But Rodgers pointed out that money hasn’t been gifted to them by a billionaire investor and that they have earned every penny through continued success on the pitch and Champions League qualification.

He also stated that every team in Scotland has had the same opportunities as the Parkhead club.

Speaking on Friday as he prepares his squad for Sunday’s Hampden showpiece, the Celtic manager said: “Philippe will have whatever he feels he needs to look at. I am only really interested in Celtic.

“This is a club that has been organically grown, we haven’t been handed money, it isn’t like we have had something come in from the Middle East and given us a load of money.

“This is something that has been grown, the work done by the leadership from the very top of the club right to the bottom is the reason why we have had the success we have had.

“That has helped us grow, develop and win, and when you win that brings more success, so for us that is all we are interested in.

“The club is in a brilliant position, but it has all been earned.

“Every team, certainly every team near the top of the table, has the possibility to earn the finances, and if they don’t do that then ok, but we have to worry about ourselves and that’s my only interest.”

Rodgers also revealed that he expects Alistair Johnston to be fully-fit and ready for the final after the right-back was taken off at half-time in the 0-0 draw with Zagreb.

He said: “The squad is healthy, we expect Ali to be ok, he was out on the pitch this afternoon so hopefully we should have everyone fit and available.

“It’s a really special game, it’s a Celtic v Rangers final, obviously we had one a few months back in the Scottish Cup, there’s always a great build up to them and there’s always a real excitement.

“For us it is a special game, but it’s the next game and the next game that we want to win so that will be our mindset going into it.

“It’s a trophy that we missed out on last year so we are very hungry to win this one.”

Both of Glasgow’s big two are currently even on 118 trophies each, giving Celtic the chance to go ahead for the first time in 80 years.

But Rodgers insists that will be no extra incentive for his squad as they look to continue their recent record at Hampden.

He said: “It doesn’t really make it any more important for me, for it’s all about winning the game and winning the trophy, we want to win as many trophies as we can.

“We don’t necessarily have to tell everyone, but we want to win and want to win well, then go on to our next game and look towards the next trophy.”