‘I get paid to make the big decisions at Celtic,’ says Brendan Rodgers. ‘This game is an art… it’s about your instinct, your experience’

Brendan Rodgers insists the final say on Celtic team selection will always rest with him – and not his backroom staff.

Ahead of Thursday’s Old Firm derby at Ibrox, which could see his side move 17 points clear at the top, Rodgers complimented the work of his medical and sports science team but made it clear the buck stops for him when it comes to the starting lineup . .

His Rangers counterpart Philippe Clement has been criticized after opting to rest some of his first-team regulars, including Vaclav Cerny and Hamza Igamane, for Sunday’s draw against Motherwell, following recommendations of his support staff.

However, Rodgers felt it was a manager’s job to make those big decisions and that ‘feeling and emotion’ sometimes outweighed the scientific reason when it came to deciding whether a player was ready to play or not.

“It’s like every sector of my club, whether it’s coaching, medicine, sports science or our welfare team,” the manager said. ‘I’m always there to listen, but ultimately as a manager you judge, that’s what you get paid for.

‘As a manager you are paid to listen to opinions, but ultimately the great thing about being a coach and leader is that you decide.

Rodgers speaks to his Celtic side ahead of the Old Firm derby at Ibrox on Tuesday

The Celtic squad, led by my skipper Callum McGregor (right), were in good spirits during training

‘I have a brilliant sports science team here who will give me all the information I ever need if I want it, and as with anything I’m open to it – but I’m not driven by it.

‘I’m driven by talking to players and getting a feel for them because we all have moments in our lives where maybe you don’t want to do something but you’re somehow dragged towards it and you say ‘okay ‘ and you quite enjoy it.

‘So for me it’s more about feeling. I repeat: I have a brilliant sports science team who know how we work and we know that sometimes we have to push players.

“It may not fit well and it may not look nice on a song, but this game is an art, and it’s about feeling and emotion, and it’s about working with the players and sometimes pushing them over a hill when they might don’t want to go there.

“But that push gets them over it and when they get to the other side, it’s a great place.

‘[It’s about] your instincts, your experience… like I said, I listen to my entire department when it comes to the information I need.

‘So I am informed by it, but not driven by it. The game is about people.

‘All the players here work so hard. I’m changing the team to keep the energy, keep the enthusiasm in the team and the team has responded brilliantly. The game should be about the emotional, the feeling and what the players are like.’

Rodgers heads to Ibrox looking to improve his near-flawless record against Rangers after losing just once to his biggest rivals in 20 games. This is in stark contrast to Clement who is still looking for his first derby victory after six fruitless attempts.

Celtic are now the current holders of all three domestic trophies and are in good form to achieve another treble and progress in the Champions League. But Rodgers believes it is derby results that most clearly define a Glasgow manager’s legacy.

“It’s where you’re judged at this level when you’re at Celtic or Rangers. I think you are judged in these games,” Rodgers added. ‘I saw Giovanni van Bronckhorst reach a European final and not long after lose his job because he lost to Celtic.

‘That’s a huge measure for any manager here and I’m fully aware of that, I always have been. Winning is very important. Winning against your biggest rivals is very important and the progress of your club is important.

‘I’m excited about it [this game]enthusiastic about the preparation and what the team can deliver. We want to go in there with a professional attitude and work the way we have worked – consistently well – and feel the pressure, but play under the pressure. This is what we train for.’

Rodgers says despite the 14-point gap, the Old Firm derby is not a dead rubber

Thursday’s derby is different from the point of view that there is little tangible at stake this time, as Celtic could lose to Rangers and still have an 11-point lead at the midpoint of the Championship.

However, Rodgers rejected the idea that it will ease the pressure on him or his players if they go to Ibrox to play again without the support of their supporters, who are still locked out of the match.

“I don’t think there is less stress,” he added. ‘I hear the story about a “dead rubber”. There’s never a Rangers-Celtic game that’s a dead rubber – not in my book.

‘The gap is actually not there, I must say. I went there last season under pressure and all that stuff. Now I’m going there with a 14-point lead. But nothing changes for us, the mentality is to perform and play our game.

‘That pressure will always be there and especially a match at Ibrox without Celtic supporters. But that makes it even better. You want to win every match and perform at the very best level. It’s an iconic game that I always want to win.’