Hoops in great shape for Valencia test, says Rodgers
BOSS Brendan Rodgers insists Celtic are at the “best level they could be” going into the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie against Valencia at Parkhead tonight.
The Hoops are six points clear of Rangers at the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership and have won all seven games since the turn of the year, scoring 21 goals and conceding none.
Indeed, the Scottish champions have not lost a goal at home since a 2-1 win over Salzburg on December 13, all of which is encouraging the Carnlough man.
He said: “We are at the best level we could be at in terms of the start we have made to the second part (of the season) and also to the level of our game.
“The intensity is at a really high level and, irrespective of our opponents, that is what we always try to achieve in the game, in terms of pressing the game and playing at a really high tempo and have that throughout the 90 minutes.
“So I don’t think the players could be in any better form coming into it.
“Yes, we have players missing through injury, but we have had throughout the season and we just get on with it, do our work, do our preparation and we prepare to win every game.”
Valencia are in eighth place in La Liga at the moment, 20 points behind leaders Barcelona.
Boss Marcelino has been quoted as saying his squad is “tired” but Rodgers will not read too much into that claim.
The former Liverpool supremo said: “Of course at this stage of the season you have been playing a lot of games. They will have that fatigue element at times.
“Look at the volume of games we have played and the intensity, so you can have that fatigue but very quickly you get over that.
“When they walk into the stadium and they feel that atmosphere I am sure they will be as ready as us.
“But I understand where he is coming from because there is so much in the modern game in terms of what you are putting in, the recovery periods and then you are straight into another game.
“But they are an outstanding team and a team that will probably see themselves as one that can go far in the competition,” he added.
“They are not used to losing, they have only lost four (league) games this season so the mentality is to win.
“They have drawn some games but they are a very good side, packed with technical players, with good physicality but that’s what you expect at this level.”
While acknowledging the importance of a clean sheet, Rodgers insists his side should not be afraid if they concede to the Spanish side.
He said: “We will try to win the game but if we can keep a clean sheet of course that always helps.
“Yes, we want to make sure you are compact and defend well, but if you concede a goal it doesn’t mean that you can’t win away from home, of course it makes it more difficult.
“We can’t be frightened if we conceded a goal because there is many ways you can concede.
“But the idea is to be really aggressive defensively, strong and compact as a team and obviously look to be as creative and attacking as we can.”
• RANGERS goalkeeper Allan McGregor has lost his appeal against a violent conduct charge and will be banned for two games.
McGregor, 37, was adjudged to have slid into Aberdeen’s Lewis Ferguson with his studs up during last week’s win at Pittodrie.
The Scotland number one challenged the charge, but it was upheld at Hampden Park by the Scottish Football Association yes- terday and he has been suspended for two matches.
McGregor will miss Saturday’s home league game against St Johnstone and next Wednesday’s Scottish Cup fourth-round replay against Kilmarnock.
Referee Bobby Madden did not caution McGregor, who was later issued with a notice of complaint.
Rangers failed in their bid to get striker Alfredo Morelos’ three-game ban overturned last week following his red card in the same match.
Morelos and Aberdeen defender Scott McKenna were both shown straight red cards by Madden for kicking out at each other early in the second half. PETR Cech admits it would be the “ideal scenario” to bring down the curtain on his glittering career by lifting the Europa League with Arsenal.
The 36-year-old (below) announced in January that he would retire at the end of the season, having won no fewer than 14 major trophies with Chelsea and the Gunners.
Having lost his place as firstchoice goalkeeper at the Emirates to Bernd Leno, Cech has been relegated to playing in the cups.
He will start for Unai Emery’s side when they face BATE Borisov in the first leg of their Europa League Round of 32 tie tonight — and he already has his eyes on the final.
“That would be an ideal scenario for me to finish my career,” he said. “We prepare every day for every competition and this is what we are aiming for, we try to win every game and progress and as a club it is important for us to try and go as far as possible.
“Winning the Europa League is a great memory for everyone involved and secondly it can book you a place in the Champions League — there is a lot to play for.”
Emery was again quizzed on the continued absence of Arsenal’s highest earner Mesut Ozil.
The forward has found himself on the periphery under Emery and missed the weekend win at Huddersfield through illness.
He was not part of the travelling party to Minsk yesterday evening, although Emery explained the decision was not a tactical one.
“The players we didn’t bring were because Aaron Ramsey did not train with us and Sokratis (Papastathopoulos) only started training yesterday and today — I don’t think it’s enough,” he said.
“Mesut is the same. (Pierre-Emerick) Aubameyang, after he was sick, trained on Monday, yesterday and today, and I think he’s okay for the match.”
While temperatures in Belarus hover around zero, Emery insists his side will have no excuses.
“We played against Vorskla in Kiev when it was below zero snowing,” he added. “It’s not an excuse. We play 90 minutes that are the same for them and for us.”