There aren’t many people in Glasgow who earn £3.5 million a year.
That’s what Brendan Rodgers takes home, which is nice work if you can get it. Although nice won’t be a word going through his mind if things go wrong against Astana tonight.
All the supporters who would do his job for nothing expect, and that is the right word, Celtic to get into the Champions League play-off round. They are at home with an away goal advantage against a decent team capable of good moments, if rarely truly great ones.
Leigh Griffiths is surely bound to score, Patrick Roberts is in top nick and the support will roar them on.
It is, as they say, all there for them.
But Rodgers goes into this game with a squad that should have been better strengthened before now and that is why he will really have to earn his money tonight. If he can get the club back into the group stages, his wage will be completely justified because the task is not as straightforward as it might have been.
He is a big name with a big pay packet, and over the last 24 hours the Celtic manager would have some big decisions to make.
Does he go with three at the back? Is Efe Ambrose too big a risk? Will Kolo Toure be fit enough to take any part in proceedings? Can Stefan Johansen, who he likes, be trusted with a start?
And then during the game, whether things are going badly or well, who he brings on and off will have a major impact. He got this bang-on in Kazakhstan. He has to do so again.
There will be close to 60,000 inside the citadel which stands on Kerrydale Street. Many of them had lost at least some interest in their team. For the passion to be resorted full-time, Celtic have to win this evening.
And returning on the subject of money, Dermot Desmond, Peter Lawwell and the board need to back their man after this tie no matter what.
Three injuries to key defenders hasn’t helped Rodgers and that most likely won’t happen again. However, that squad is lacking a creator in the middle of the park, a passer of the ball who can get the others around him going.
This type of player won’t come cheap but then Celtic do have the money and if they make it past this and the next round, there is no excuse for not splashing the cash.
For me, Celtic will have enough about them tonight to get through but may have to score twice to make sure that is the case. But it’s going to be nervy. It always is.
Rodgers had some big moments with Liverpool. This will match any of his previous accomplishments if his team is set-up right and finishes off the tie.
There is nothing wrong with rival teams, especially one in particular, not wanting Celtic to do well in Europe. That’s football rivalry for you.
However, the Scottish game really could do with Celtic playing in the Champions League and Aberdeen progressing as well.
There is a lot resting on Rodgers’s shoulders.
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