In March 2015 Scott Brown hit the front pages and it didn’t look great.
A couple of days before the League Cup Final with Dundee United the Celtic skipper had had a few beers too many and was pictured sprawled on the pavement eating pizza.
Within an hour he had arrived back home in a taxi but the damage was done, he knew what was coming next.
Despite calls from some to drop the skipper or remove the armband Brown was first up the Hampden steps to collect the trophy from Rod Stewart.
Brendan Rodgers certainly has a way with words. No situation or question is too difficult for the Irishman as he deals with life at Celtic.
In his mind he may picture a team with eleven new players but in public it’s all upbeat, positive and supportive.
Handling the skipper, the oldest player in the dressing room is essential for any new manager and the messages to Brown are crystal clear.
Whether it was intentional or not Rodgers even managed to mention Brown’s lifestyle leaving his captain in little doubt about his value to the team- and manager.
“My perception was based on only seeing him in a few big games for Celtic and Scotland,” the Celtic boss explained. “Now I’m working with him, I can see he is in great shape. Physically he looks really good. He is healthy in terms of his diet and mentality.
“Tactically, the concepts in the game I have asked him to do, and I’ve looked at him in a couple of positions, he has surprised me how quickly he has picked it up.
“Sometimes players get labelled quickly, such as being athletic and then people just focus on his running but can you develop on the tactical side of the game
“From what we have given them so far, which has been a lot, Scott is tactically very astute. He probes into spaces, fills gaps both with and without the ball and his passing is good.
“Of course, like any player it could be better, but he can play it long, short or split the game.
“He is great in pressing and can really drive the team but then he has the calmness to make the first pass when he wins it.
“I also have to say he is a wonderful guy. He has an old-school mentality where he leads the team and supports the manager in everything you do.”
A win tonight followed by a place in the group stage of the Champions League might involve Brown and Rodgers sharing a pizza- but maybe not sitting on an Edinburgh pavement.
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