Brendan Rodgers has been speaking to the media before Celtic’s Champions League game with Club Brugge on Wednesday night.
Here are the key lines from the Celtic boss:
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Rodgers is urging his team to harness “the power of Celtic Park” as they look to move to the brink of the knockout stages with three games to spare.
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He says opposition players now find Parkhead an intimidating arena: “Take the RB Leipzig match for example. Some of their players afterwards spoke of the impact the stadium brings. We have to channel that, we have to be at the highest level to progress.”
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A key quote was “failure is a part of the journey”. The manager spoke about the “trampoline effect” of the 7-1 trouncing in Dortmund. He feels his players have responded really well – “it can bounce you back higher” – by drawing at Atalanta then beating Leipzig.
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Rodgers says Brugge will provide his team with “a big examination” as Celtic aim to take their home Champions League winning streak to four matches.
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He warns against thinking the Belgian champions are a lesser side than Atalanta or Leipzig just because they’re not as heralded a name.
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Rodgers adds: “They’ve got really good organisation. They’re very well coached, they know their roles. The frontline is fast and dynamic. Simon Mignolet [goalkeeper] is calm and experienced, they have hungry young players, these are teams you cannot underestimate. Fantastic players with a good coach.”
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The Celtic boss says he’s heartened by the progress he feels his side have made compared to this time last year and is further encouraged that “there’s still a lot more to come”.
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Rodgers revealed he has a fully fit squad to choose from and he’s excited for another big Champions League night at Celtic Park under the lights.
