Brendan Rodgers reveals he turned down lucrative China offer to stay at Celtic after Scottish League Cup win

The former Liverpool manager says he rejected ‘an awful lot of money’ to remain in Glasgow

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers revealed he rejected a lucrative formal offer to move to China during the summer after watching his side book their place in the semi-final of the Scottish League Cup.

After securing a second successive domestic treble, the former Swansea and Liverpool manager was sought out to take over at a Chinese club but was content to stay in Glasgow.

A late Leigh Griffiths strike gave holders Celtic a 1-0 win over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park to set up a last-four tie with Hearts, while Aberdeen take on Rangers in the other semi-final with the games scheduled for October 27 and 28.

“Since I have been at Celtic I have had a few offers,” Rodgers said after the match. “So that [China] is no different to any of the others.

“My focus is very much on Celtic, trying to help us rise to the challenge of this season. What you know with China is it's an awful lot of money, big money.

“But I have found happiness here. I spoke to the owners of the club and the board and we find an agreement and move on. I have had other opportunities but I am very much here, I have this year and two more years on my contract.

“Unless they get fed up with me or something else happens I am very privileged to be here.”

Speaking about the semi-final draw against Hearts, Rodgers added: "[It was] always going to be tough whoever we got, tonight was about getting in.”

Celtic have not been as dominant this season under Rodgers (Getty)

Rodgers made no attempt to hide his unhappiness with defender Dedryck Boyata, who was shown a straight red card for dissent by referee John Beaton in the 90th minute, especially after fellow centre back Kristoffer Ajer had to come off with a hamstring injury.

“I just watched it back afterwards and it is a stupid red card,” he said. “I think he has enough opportunities not to get sent off. It was an emotional game near the end, Dedryck feels as if he should had a free kick and didn't get it. In fairness to John [Beaton] he gives him a chance not to get the red card, it was not what we would want.

“It looked like Kris' hamstring. We are just going to have to see how long that is going to be and obviously Dedryck will miss whatever it is, the semi-final or whatever.

“But we have accept it and move on.”

Celtic’s late winner was particularly galling for St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright, who felt his side had an opportunity to pull off an upset despite finding themselves under sustained pressure.

“I was hoping to get to 90 minutes but it wasn't to be,” he admitted. “In the second half we get caught open a little bit at times and had to defend more desperate situations than we did in the first half but you have to give Celtic credit, they upped the tempo.

“But when you get to that late in the game it is disappointing and we have a great chance at the end. If we score than then the pendulum maybe swings in our favour going into extra time against 10 men.”