CELTS HAD NO BELIEF
HOOPS ARE RUSSIAN OFFSKI
From Back Page but was left shattered at the way his side gifted their aggregate advantage to Roberto Mancini’s team – while struggling to lay a glove on Zenit.
He said: “We were much better than them in the first leg and, if we had played with a little bit more courage and belief, we could maybe have got a result.
“Defensively we lacked aggression, particularly in the first half. We didn’t close the space quick enough.
“We talk about defending forward and we just didn’t defend forward well enough. We conceded poor goals from that.
“The corner is one that can happen, we were blocked off, they worked it well and found the space. Branislav Ivanovic is outstanding in the air.
“The second goal, we didn’t engage quickly enough from the throw-in. We’re too deep and have to press the guy who was shooting.
“At 2-0 we still have an opportunity in the game but everything was too sideways and backwards. That’s about bravery and having courage to play.
“Possession is no good on its own. You have to penetrate and have that creativity.
“We didn’t have enough quality control to play forward in the first half.
“We didn’t threaten at all during that first half because we were too negative in our play.
“The second half was a little better but you have to defend better and the third was a very disappointing goal for us to concede.
“When they get to 3-0 they can control the game more without the ball.
“We played so well in the first game and the idea was to start off in similar fashion, to try to defend well and create chances. When it didn’t happen we made the changes.
“It’s sometimes easy to play when you are 3-0 down and, with so many young players in the team, you can see the contrast from last week.
“We started the second half okay but again we concede possession too cheaply and they work the ball round for a cross. We should never concede that type of goal.”
The loss was Celtic’s heaviest defeat in the competition since the 5-1 hammering by Neuchatel Xamax in 1991 under the old UEFA Cup banner.
But Rodgers was keen to suggest his troops have made moves in the right direction on the continent this term.
He said: “There is still an awful lot of work for us to do but, when I take a step back, there have been a lot of positives for us in Europe this season.
“We have played very well in some games, shown some great qualities. Of course we are up against the best of the best so there is a lot of learning taking place.
“It’s about consistency. Last week was an outstanding performance which would allow you to think you had a great opportunity to go through but if you don’t start with that aggressive mentality then it’s really difficult.
“Over the course of both competitions in Europe there have been aspects that pleased me. We are taking steps forward with a lot of young players.”
With Europe now finished for the season, attention turns back to domestic matters and Sunday’s crunch Premiership clash against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
Celtic have been on the go on the continent since last July’s Champions League opener against Linfield but are now eyeing a clear run at a clean sweep.
Rodgers and his players are hunting a second straight Treble and the boss said: “We now have to finish our domestic campaign as strongly as we can and create another piece of history on that front.
“We then need to look to take another step forward in Europe.”