Rodgers criticised supporters for showing their frustration at the team’s play in the early stages of the 3-0 win at Celtic Park, and also said a section of the crowd singing about Kieran Tierney was disrespectful towards current left-back Greg Taylor.

Speaking before Wednesday’s Scottish Premiership game at home to Dundee United, Rodgers said he felt he needed make a point in the pursuit of unity.

“I am not going to beat about the bush when I am talking about the bush,” he explained.

“I am experienced enough to say what I think and what I feel, but not in a derogatory way to anyone.

“I am so happy that I came back here and love my life and love my job here.

“But it is also important to be able to say what I think. Sometimes you are paid not to say what you think, but there are moments when you have to and I am at the stage now in my career and my life where I do not need to bite my tongue.”

Rodgers has spoken to Taylor, whose contract expires at the end of the season, about the situation and his future, praising him as a “dedicated Celt”.

And while the Celtic boss did not retreat from his previous remarks and joked he looked forward to his eventual successor producing “60 games of high intensity football for 95 minutes every week”, he did call for fans to back the team in a busy period.

“I can never say to anyone what to say, what to think, what to sing,” Rodgers added.

“I know what my own personal value is and a lot of it is based around respect.

“But for me, the Celtic support is an amazing support base, what they give the team and how they support the team and how they travel with the team.

“For me, it is just that bigger picture around this period of games in particular, where pitches are a wee bit lumpier than what they normally would be and the game may be a little bit slower than what it can normally be.

“So that is not always the fault of the players, that is just sometimes how it is. But for us, it is that support that can really help the team in what is a really gruelling period for us.”