“Our objective is to get into the play-off phase,” Brendan Rodgers

The Celtic Star

·26 November 2024

“Our objective is to get into the play-off phase,” Brendan Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers spoke to the media, including The Celtic Star this afternoon at Celtic Park ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League match against Club Brugge at Paradise…

The Celtic manager was in fine form and fully of optimism that the team can get another victory with the assistance of the huge crowd inside Celtic Park. Around 3000 away supporters with add to the occasion on what looks like being a memorable night under the disco lights. Bet you can’t wait…

The Celtic manager was asked about the possibility of reaching ten points tomorrow night with a win that could be enough to make the play-off stages of the new look Champions League. Brendan wouldn’t be drawn on the possibility of making the top eight to avoid the play-offs completely.

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“It’s the Champions League so every game is a very tough game and this will be another big examination for us. We’re at the halfway point and have seven out of 12, so we’re really pleased with that, but it’s not just that – it’s the performance level in the competition that gives us confidence.

“Our objective is to get into the play-off phase, first and foremost, and we’ll have to see what points total that will take us, but for us it really is just focusing on this game and look to bring the performance level.”

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers during a press conference at Celtic Park on Tuesday November 26, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan

Brendan Rodgers accepts that his team is growing in the Champions League after a few tough years getting to grips with the elite standards.

“The performance level last year, even though we didn’t quite get the results and the wins we would have wanted, certainly indicated to me that we were growing and developing,” the Celtic manager said.

“Now, in three of the four games this season we’ve shown a high level of performance – different types of performances, but certainly the Leipzig game was a culmination of everything that we would want – the physicality, the pressing in the team and the aggression, but also the calmness in our defending.

“As much as you want to dominate, you’re just not going to be able to do it at this level. You’re going to have spells where the opposition who have real quality in their team and who will be very well coached, will make you suffer. And it’s having that ability to suffer.

Auston Trusty of Celtic heads the ball away from Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig. Celtic v RB Leipzig, UEFA Champions League, Group Stage, Football, Celtic Park, 5 November 2024 Phot Stuart Wallace Shutterstock (Imago – The Celtic Star)

“I think that was the great thing about the Leipzig game – we suffered, we went behind after making a really good start, so we had to weather a wee bit of a storm for 10 minutes, but then we grew back into the game again and then ran out very convincing winners.

“But you have to be ready for it, and that’s something we’re developing all the time.”

The Celtic manager has no fresh injury concerns after the 4-1 win against Hearts on Saturday evening, and he pointed out that the trend for the side to be slightly out of sync after an international break was evident in the first half at Tynecastle. That will be out of the system tomorrow night and we expect the same team that started against RB Leipzig in the last match to start against Club Brugge.

Celtic v RB Leipzig – UEFA Champions League – League Stage – Celtic Park (back to front, left to right) Celtic’s Nicolas Kuhn, Auston Trusty, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Arne Engels, Alistair Johnston, goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, Daizen Maeda, Greg Taylor, Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi before the UEFA Champions League, league stage match at Celtic Park, on Tuesday November 5, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan

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“Our objective is to get into the play-off phase,” Brendan Rodgers | OneFootball