Brendan Rodgers believes that a special school run can help his players reach the Champions League.
Across Scotland this week thousands of kids will be going to school for the first time with most parents more nervous and excited than their budding pupil.
As a father himself Rodgers knows how special that time can be and has altered Celtic’s Champions League preparations to allow Leigh Griffiths and others to go on the school run.
It’s probably not listed in any coaching manual but the Celtic manager will chase any option that he believes can give his players an edge when the referee blows his whistle.
“Your kid going to school for the very first day, you never get it back ever in your lifetime,” Rodgers reflected on the eve of playing Hapoel Beer Sheva.
“So I always make the point of finding out which players are new fathers and who has kids going to school on the first day. I find out the dates and I just put training back a wee bit.
“It gives the players the chance to see their kids on a special day. You know, they are fathers, not just footballers. They are people and I’ve always said that. No matter what the number is on their back they are human beings.
“I’m giving them the chance to go and walk their son or daughter into school. That’s a special moment for a father.”
Rodgers added: “Someone like Leigh Griffiths, a young father, will never, ever get the chance to see his children’s first day at school again. That’s important.
“Okay, we have a big game but we have lots of time to prepare. I don’t tend to cocoon the players, I treat them like adults. I trust them, and work the trust.
“Hopefully they take that responsibility as being a mature human being and they’ll be prepared mentally.”