Brendan Rodgers insists he will never hold his tongue when it comes to facing the Celtic support.
The Parkhead boss accused a section of the club's home fans of showing “disrespect” towards left-back Greg Taylor by chanting Kieran Tierney towards the end of Sunday's 3-0 win over St Mirren.
Rodgers also urged fans to show more “confidence” in the team after detecting impatience and frustration in the early stages of the victory over the Buddies.
Rodgers doubles down on his comments and believes he has earned the right to speak his mind.
“I'm not going to beat around the bush when I talk about the branches,” Rodgers said.
'I have enough experience to say what I think and what I feel. But not in a derogatory way towards anyone.
Brendan Rodgers insists he has enough experience to be able to say what he thinks and feels.
Rodgers felt Celtic fans had been 'disrespectful' to Greg Taylor (pictured)
Celtic fans were excited by the prospect of Rodgers bringing Tierney back to Glasgow.
'I love my life here and I love my job here, but it's also important to be able to say what I think.
'Sometimes you get paid not to speak your mind, but there are times when you have to. I'm at a stage in my life and career where I don't need to bite my tongue.'
Celtic take on Dundee United at Parkhead on Wednesday night. Jim Goodwin's side kept a rare clean sheet against the champions in a recent 0-0 draw at Tannadice and Rodgers wants fans to provide a positive and supportive atmosphere for his team as they look to extend their lead over Rangers to 16 points before the Ibrox team. will face Dundee tomorrow night.
“I know what the power of this club is when everything is together and that unity is there,” he continued. “And also what it feels like for the players to be there receiving that incredible support.”
“I can understand it after the Rangers game and not playing anywhere near our level. So I can understand a little bit of trepidation and a little bit of worry.
But it's something that I think is very, very important. My priority with the players is the level of performance and that comes from training and matches, creating that atmosphere in which the players can thrive.
“Listen, Celtic fans are fantastic for the team and the players when everything is up to par.
“There will be times over the course of the next few months when teams will be in a funk and you may not always be able to play forward and have to come out and restart the attack again.”
'I never ask the team to play around the houses and not be penetrating. I think that shows in the goals we score and the opportunities we create.
'It's an observation. I believe that everyone has the right to express their emotions and feelings and that was my feeling of the weekend. But now we look forward.”
Goodwin's United have moved up the Premiership table to overtake Aberdeen and move into third place on goal difference.
Celtic endured a day of frustration in a 0-0 draw at Tannadice before Christmas and, after picking up a point at Ibrox in November, Rodgers expects the Tangerines to prove a tough nut to crack.
“They're very good and you can see that from their position in the league,” Rodgers noted. 'They are clearly getting results and performances and doing very, very well.
“They made things very difficult for us up there, in difficult conditions, and that day we couldn't advance. “But I'd like to think this will be a totally different game.”