Brendan Rodgers: I'm not here to tell Celtic supporters how to feel

Brendan Rodgers says he is “not here to tell supporters how to feel” amid planned protests against the board this weekend.

But the manager insists the club must learn from mistakes made in the summer and look to constantly progress and strengthen the squad.

Fans are planning to stay outside the stadium for the first 12 minutes of their game against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park as a result of discontent from the perceived failings of the transfer window and failure to reach the Champions League.

Rodgers says he can understand the frustrations and urged the club to keep up with growing expectations, particularly on the European stage.

Speaking to the media on Friday, he said: “The club put out a statement, I’m not here to answer those questions because they are not mine, that will be something that I’m sure will become clear over the coming weeks with how that evolves.

“I’m not here to tell supporters how to feel, they feel frustrated and they will have every right to feel that.

“My job is to drive the team and the club forward as much as I possibly can.

“When I came in here in 2016, the treble had only been won three times, from then I looked to elevate the mentality and standards of this football club, and over the course of nine years the expectation is now to win a treble every season.

“The combination of that drive and demand that comes from the supporters, I know because I feel it and I grew up with it, so I understand what the demands are and that will continue.

“This club has huge potential, the size, the support base that we have, the history of the club and the supporters want to see the club continue to develop.

“Not just domestically, the club have done that and that is always your bread and butter, of course, but we have to perform and be more consistent in Europe.

“The summer transfer window was a critical window for us, to get players in and recycle the squad, we had to be able to do it early so we were ready for these games, and we weren’t ready. It’s as simple as that.

“So, now can we learn from that? We have to, because if not, the cycle will just continue.

“It never made me consider walking away, I just felt empty, If I’m honest. It was a long process, and when the weight in your shoulders and it doesn’t quite go the way you want, then of course, you have an empty feeling.

“But, as one of the leaders of the club, and particularly the manager of the team, you’ve got to get your head around it and you have to deal with it and maximise what you have.”