HOOPS READY TO GO OUT ALL GUNS BLAZING
FROM BACK PAGE ask them if we have this shot at getting through, do they believe they can win?
“If they do, no matter how tentative it is, if it’s a yes then let’s go out here and give it everything.
“Let’s fight, let’s tackle, let’s play. If we’re going to go out let’s give it our best shot. That’s what the players do.
“It’s a great challenge for us. I saw enough in the game last week in terms of how we started the game to know we still have a chance.
“We lost our way a wee bit after 25 minutes and we gave them confidence and the first goal was obviously critical.
“But I think we came into the game, like we’ve done over the past two-and-a-half years, whenever we’ve had disappointing results or performances, or both, we’ve always tried to then respond.
“And we did that at the weekend in a tough league game at Kilmarnock and we carry the confidence now to go again in this.”
Rodgers has arrived in Spain without left-back Kieran Tierney who is set to return to action this weekend in the league game at Motherwell.
But Jozo Simunovic has travelled and is ready to return to the heart of the manager’s defence as Celtic attempt to defy all the odds by winning a European tie in Spain for the first time.
Rodgers added: “We accept the challenge. We know the perception will be we’re out but it’s always been that we have to find hope in relation to the games we have.
“And if we believe we can do it, even if it’s a tentative belief, if it’s a yes you have to go for it.
“You have to play with energy and give everything and fight to the very end. If we can get the first goal then who knows?” HE’S heard the talk in the TV studios.
And it reminds him of the conversations that were taking place almost three years ago after Celtic were battered to within an inch of their lives by Barcelona.
But Brendan Rodgers remains as calm today as he was following that 7-0 nightmare in the Nou Camp. And every bit as convinced his way remains the right way for Scotland’s champions – even if tonight they will again reach the end of the European road here in Spain.
“I’m not really anywhere with it,” was how he reacted last night when asked how he feels about these murmurings of discontent over his tactical approach to these travels across the continent.
With a nod to Record Sport columnist Chris Sutton, Rodgers added: “I’ve been a manager for over 10 years now. If someone is on the TV commentating who was once a targetman, what style