Bhoys growing up, reckons Rodgers
GLASGOW — Brendan Rodgers believes Celtic is in a much better place to make an impression in the Champions League than last year after watching his side ease past Linfield into the third qualifying round of the competition.
The Bhoys cruised to a 4-0 victory over the Northern Ireland champion at Celtic Park thanks to goals from Australia international Tom Rogic, Stuart Armstrong and a double from Scott Sinclair to seal a 6-0 aggregate win.
The Scottish champion will face a stern test against Norway’s Rosenborg in the first leg of their third-round tie next Wednesday.
But Rodgers, who led the Glaswegians to a treble in an undefeated first season in charge, is confident his side can overcome its Trondheimbased opponents as it attempts to emulate last season’s achievement of qualifying for the group stages.
“We have watched some of their games already,” the Celtic manager said of Rosenborg, which needed extratime to beat Irish side Dundalk.
“They’re obviously midway through their season so they will be at a good level in terms of their fitness. Norwegian teams are very disciplined and very organized but we will look forward to it.
“We know whoever we have to face over the course of this qualification campaign is not going to be easy.
“If we want to get to where we want to go, we have work hard. I look at tonight and look at the other game and I sit with a different confidence in the team.
“I am pretty happy going into these games.
“Tactically we are very good. Physically we are still building up, but if you look at the whole shape of the team and how they are working, how they are playing and how they are running then we are 100 percent in a different place from this time last season.”
Former Liverpool boss Rodgers said his side will look to take the initiative in the first leg at Celtic Park.
“A lot of teams come here and sit behind the ball,” the Northern Irishman said.
“About 95 percent of the last two games was played in the (opponents’) final third.
“Rosenborg will come and not want to concede many and take the game into the second leg and ensure they still have a chance.
“For us, we play how we play. We will go and attack the game and see if we can build a lead for the second leg.”
Celtic could find itself in trouble with UEFA after supporters’ group the Green Brigade unveiled paramilitary style banners which referenced the Troubles in Northern Ireland during the game.
Conversely, the 1,500 away fans unfurled similarly controversial banners.
Linfield’s fans are almost entirely Protestant and loyalist, in terms of allegiance to Britain, while Celtic is historically seen as a Catholic side associated with Irish nationalism.
The first leg at Windsor Park in Belfast was marred by unpleasant scenes as Linfield fans hurled missiles, including a glass bottle, at Celtic forward Leigh Griffiths.
Rodgers, who grew up in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, claimed not to have seen the second leg’s offending banners, and said: “Fortunately I am one of those guys who just concentrates on the football.”