Snooker ace John Higgins admits he has ‘had to eat humble pie’ after saying ‘something terrible’ about Brendan Rodgers

JOHN HIGGINS revealed he has been made to "eat humble pie" after saying "something terrible" about Brendan Rodgers.

Four-time snooker world champion Higgins is a boyhood Celtic fan.

The Hoops are currently nine points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership and have performed admirably in the Champions League with two wins and two draws from five games in the league phase.

Their European campaign this season has included a stunning 5-1 win over Slovan Bratislava and 3-1 win over RB Leipzig, with Higgins saying the latter was "the best I have seen Celtic play nearly ever".

Rodgers, 51, is well on his way to guiding the Glaswegian side to a second league title in a row since his return in June 2023.

However, Higgins has confessed that he was not among the crowd in favour of his return because of how he initially left to join Leicester in February 2019.

That decision came in the middle of when the club were trying to land an unprecedented 10th league title in a row, with Rangers ultimately managing to stop their rivals from achieving the goal.

But Celtic's stellar displays since his return have seen Higgins, 49, have a change of heart over the Northern Irish tactician.

Speaking to the , he said: "I have got to be honest, I didn’t want Rodgers back. It’s terrible to say it.

"Just with how he left and that ten in a row. And different things. But I have had to eat humble pie. The way he has got us back playing."

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Asked whether he was an upgrade on ex-boss Ange Postecoglou and about Rodgers' return following his unceremonious exit the first time, Higgins said: "Of course. That’s the only reason.

"A lot of Celtic fans think if he would have stayed, we would have got the ten.

"I know [Steven] Gerrard was coming. He does have Rangers’ number big time, doesn’t he?"

A member of snooker's Class of 92' with Mark Williams and Ronnie O'Sullivan, Higgins won his opening match at the Scottish Open 4-2 over Ian Burns.

He will face Barry Hawkins in the next round tomorrow.

The winner of the Scottish Open will pocket £100,000 in prize money.