John Kennedy says Rangers have improved but Celtic can get even better

Assistant boss insists champions will relish Ibrox challenge as they pursue historic ten-in-a-row

Celtic No 2 John Kennedy, left, and manager Neil Lennon are looking to maintain the club's position as the dominant force in Scottish football. Picture: Craig Williamson/SNS

As a grandson of the legendary striker Jimmy Delaney, Celtic assistant manager John Kennedy is steeped in the history and tradition of his club.

But it is a phrase coined by another iconic figure from the other side of the Old Firm divide which best sums up Kennedy’s attitude towards the challenge Celtic may face in trying to win a record-breaking tenth consecutive league title next season.

‘Let the others come after us – we welcome the chase’ is the quotation famously attributed to Bill Struth, the manager who was in charge of a dominant Rangers side when his fellow Scottish Football Hall of Fame inductee Delaney was starring on the pitch for Celtic in the 1930s and 1940s.

But even Struth could not have imagined a period when one of the Glasgow giants would monopolise the collection of domestic silverware in the relentless manner Celtic have done over the past four seasons.

It’s a position of strength Kennedy is determined Celtic will protect, regardless of how much Rangers are able to build on the progress shown under Steven Gerrard.

“Rangers have improved over the last few years,” said Kennedy. “They’ve had good spells and up until the New Year last season they were on our tails, which was fine. They were pushing us all the way. We had no problems with that, it didn’t bother us in the slightest.

“Our players responded to any questions that were asked of them and silenced the doubters in the second half of the season.

“For periods in the campaign, Rangers did well. But over the course of a season, they’ve not really fully delivered on that.

“We’ll see what next season produces, if they improve again. But one thing’s for sure, we will certainly be better again.

“We’re the best team in the country and have been for a number of years. We intend to make sure it stays that way.

“We trust the players that over the course of a season they’ll prove they’re still the strongest team. As much as everyone else will come and have a go, we’ll be fully prepared.”

The postponement of the 2019-20 Scottish Cup, with Celtic due to face Aberdeen in the semi-finals, has delayed the Scottish champions’ bid to complete a remarkable ‘quadruple treble’ of domestic trophies.

Kennedy, who has been involved in every one of the recent successes, says Celtic’s appetite for more is insatiable.

“It might not always be that we win every trophy every season,” he added. “At some point, you can’t continue to do that – trebles and everything else.

“Of course we want to and that’s always the ambition. But there might be an off day for a cup game, a sending off or a penalty goes against us and we get knocked out. However, as long as we see the mentality and the development side of it, keep winning the league, then we’ll be happy. The message is always clear – we don’t stop, we always keep moving forward.

“It’s incredible to be part of a nine in a row success, especially when I think back to when I first started in coaching and then had the opportunity to be involved with the first team when we were far from where we are now.

“There have been challenging times along the way. To look back on the run, it’s been a remarkable achievement for everyone involved.

“It’s taken so much hard work and fantastic consistency. Not just results and titles, there’s been a real steady progression in terms of off the field, culturally at the club, professionally, everyone getting the bigger picture of looking to be the dominant force in Scottish football.

“We’re also trying to progress in Europe. But the big thing at Celtic is trophies – to have achieved nine straight titles and also 11 trophies in a row is remarkable for everyone at Celtic.

“We’ve got a great group of players. Great professionals, brilliant and talented individuals who are relentless in striving for success for Celtic.”

Kennedy first joined the first-team coaching staff under Ronny Deila, continuing under Brendan Rodgers before being promoted to assistant manager when Neil Lennon returned to replace his Northern Irish compatriot last year. The manner of Rodgers’ departure to Leicester City is still a sore point for many Celtic fans but Kennedy’s bond with him remains strong.

“We still speak and, like with Ronny, he’s someone I have a close relationship with and respect highly,” he added.

“We’ll remain friends. From a personal perspective, I appreciate what he did for Celtic and for me as a young coach.

“Brendan arrived at the club from a very high level after great work for Liverpool and Swansea. He raised the standard with everything at Celtic. He understood the club, its history.

“In every area – not just the obvious aspects on the pitch and in training – he improved Celtic. Brendan wanted the best for the players but also valued every member of staff supporting the first team; the groundsmen, those in the offices, catering, he wanted to make sure they had the right resources to ensure a high standard of work.

“He knew that would lift the overall standard of the team. The players were given the best of everything – there were no excuses for them not to be successful. As time progresses, I think a lot of wounds over Brendan’s departure will heal. It’s still raw for a lot of people, emotions remain high.

“I know plenty of fans couldn’t get their heads round the timing of it. They’d 
completely bought into Brendan and loved what he achieved. So when he left it provoked anger.

“Fans felt betrayed. But, once time goes by, I’m sure people will properly reflect and appreciate what he did for us all.

“Brendan came in when things weren’t going smoothly – and he certainly delivered with the trebles, including the Invincible campaign. He’s part of the history of this nine-in-a-row.

“I can understand the feelings of some fans. But I hope eventually they’ll value what Brendan achieved for Celtic.”

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