Nuri Sahin's old comments about Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers go viral

Celtic will be taking on Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League this midweek away at Signal Iduna Park in Germany. It is not a contest that we have seen often but it will be a reunion of sorts for the two clubs' managers. Brendan Rodgers and Nuri Sahin were together at Liverpool about a decade ago.

Sahin was on loan at Liverpool from Real Madrid. And one has to admit that it was not the best of times for him.

Sahin was not played in the position that he favoured. He would eventually leave Liverpool and moved on to a loan spell at Borussia Dortmund instead. It was a short spell for him at Anfield and one which did not work out for anyone involved.

Back then, Sahin had not had great things to say about Rodgers. As reported by The Guardian back in 2013, he had told AS:

"I did not fail at Liverpool. Brendan Rodgers wanted me to play as a number 10. But I do not play behind the strikers.

"I talked to him and asked him why he was playing me there. It is not my real position. The coach could not answer me … Still, no regrets. To play at Anfield was a wonderful experience. And maybe if I had not gone there I would not have been able to return to Borussia Dortmund. For that, I am happy. Thank God I have left Brendan Rodgers."

Nuri Sahin addresses past issues with Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers

It would be safe to say that Sahin has a lot more experience now, both in football and in life. He has seen the game not only as a player but also as a manager now.

And more than a decade on, it looks like he has a very different view of his time at Liverpool and his then manager, Rodgers. As reported by the Daily Record, he said:

"Was it a difficult time at Liverpool? Absolutely not. I don't know what I said back in the days when I was young, but the only thing was for me that I played in a different position than I used to play. But the problem was that Steven Gerrard played in my position! So I had to adjust with my position, and this was the only thing.

“Everything else, I really enjoyed during my time at Liverpool. It’s a fantastic club and under Brendan I enjoyed every training session with him. It was very ball-oriented, ball possession and playing in the opponent's half. I can only say good things about him and my time there. The thing is when you get a call from Dortmund, and you’re a Dortmund boy, you go back home. So this was the only reason."

Well, it is good to see that Sahin has moved on from his spell at Liverpool and does not seem to have any hard feelings about Rodgers. Hopefully, it will be all smiles and handshakes when the two managers face off at Signal Iduna Park this week.

Of course, fans won't be too concerned about the situation between Sahin and Rodgers. The focus has to be on the match at hand and the three valuable points up for grabs. Of course, Borussia Dortmund will be the favourites on the night but do not make the mistake of counting Celtic out.