Brendan Rodgers Sets Out Celtic’s Champions League Aim
Brendan Rodgers is entering the Champions League with high hopes for Celtic, targeting the playoff phase.
Soccer Football – Champions League – Group E – Celtic v Feyenoord – Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain – December 13, 2023 Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
As Celtic prepares to launch their campaign against Slovan Bratislava at home on Wednesday night, Rodgers expresses optimism for success in this season’s revamped tournament.
The Parkhead manager, embarking on his fourth group stage attempt, stressed the importance of getting off to a winning start. He talked about the momentum that could be built from consecutive Champions League victories, including the final game of the previous season against Feyenoord, when Lagerbielke’s late goal sealed Celtic’s first home in in the competition in over a decade, and the potential opening win against Bratislava.
Rodgers outlines the structure of the competition and the new challenges it presents, suggesting that reaching the playoff phase is the aim for him and his Celtic players this season.
“Yeah, that would be great,” Rodgers said as quoted by RecordSport.
“That would be a great first step for us. As I said, there are eight brilliant games, intense games, great competition. So we of course clearly would want to do that.
“And obviously having back-to-back Champions League victories. We had our last game here at Feyenoord where we won and then to open up and win again would be a real good feeling and put everyone in a good mood and then we can carry that through into the other games.
“I think our intention firstly is to reach the play-off. I think if you look at the teams that go through then over the course of the eight games, I think you’re really looking to reach that play-off phase. That would certainly be the objective that I would set first and foremost and then from there you can then gauge it.”
Celtic are more than capable of finishing in a position that will see them play the play off round to enter into the round of 16. A result against Bratislava will give a significant boost heading into the Champions League, with a tough trip to Dortmund next on the cards for Rodgers and his side.
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