Brendan Rodgers has backed his Rangers counterpart Russell Martin, and questioned criticism coming from the previous management team.
The Celtic boss also took aim at Martin’s predecessors who have criticised him in recent days, adding that they faced similar challenges in the top job.
Pressure is growing on Martin following five league games without a win, with protests planned at Ibrox for this weekend’s game against Hibernian.
The Rangers head coach has also received some criticism for taking his squad on a team bonding session at Loch Lomond earlier this week.
But Rodgers believes some of the criticism has been over the top and backed Martin to come out the other end stronger as a result.
He said: “Being a manager in the modern game, and especially at a high-pressure club, it’s a big challenge because all the eyes are on you and it can be a lonely place.
“There’s hardly any time to breath, but you have to find a way. The stuff from during the week, when the (Rangers) team went on a team-building exercise, every team does that. Like everything in life, it’s about timing.
“If Russell does that at another time, maybe after they’ve won a few games, then everyone says ‘what a great idea’.
“I see the scrutiny that is on Russell, and whatever happens he will be better for it.”
In an apparent reference to last season’s interim management team of Barry Ferguson, Neil McCann and Billy Dodds, who are now back working with the media, Rodgers said: “I have some issues around the moral aspect, when I see people commenting on how he is doing, when not that long ago they were stood in his shoes, or sat on the bench.
“So, I don’t like that when I see a manager being pulled up on certain aspects of the game, when not so long ago the same people couldn’t work it out either.
“For him, everything is on him and he will be stronger for it. He’s got a bit of experience, he is 39 – the same age as me when I managed Liverpool, so I know exactly what it can be like and this will make him stronger.
“You just need to have that inherent belief in what you are doing, believe in it, and hopefully you get the opportunity to come through that.”
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