Hoops form is night and day

S C OT T B row n cl a i m s Brendan Rodgers has transformed Celtic since they last visited Astana.

Celtic go into the second-leg of their Champions League play-off boasting a 5-0 lead over the Kazakh champions and are all but guaranteed a spot in the group stage.

Just over a year ago Celtic drew 1-1 with Astana in t he first-leg of t heir third-round qualifier. It took a late penalty from Moussa Dembele in the return game to see them progress.

The Scottish champions, who are set to be boosted by the signing of 20-year-old defender Rivaldo Coetzee from Ajax Cape Town, also captured the domestic treble l ast season, all the while going unbeaten on t he home front.

“Looking back 12 months, we weren’t that great a team,” said Hoops captain Brown.

“We haven’t made that many changes but t he gaffer has brought us tog ether and brought confidence and belief into the same players who have been here for three or four seasons.

“It’s the way the gaffer wants players to be, in peak condition all year round.

“He understands that we go on holiday but he wants us to eat the right food and make sure you come back in the right physical condition.

“We are a lot fitter than last season. We came back in better condition, we watched a lot more videos of Astana, how they played and how we can attack them and create chances.”

Brendan Rodgers has transformed Celtic.