WORLDS APART
We played like Under-12s says Rodgers after Paris superstars humble Celtic
BRENDAN RODGERS last night accused Celtic of playing like Under-12s after a crushing defeat to Paris saint-germain in the Champions League.
strikes by Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, a double from Edinson Cavani and a Mikael Lustig own goal saw the Parkhead club fall to their heaviest home defeat since shipping five goals to Hearts in 1895.
A night of abject misery was exacerbated by a fan invading the pitch to aim a kick at Mbappe and Rodgers bemoaned his team’s ball retention as the most expensive forward line in world football struck three times in the opening 40 minutes.
‘You can lose to that scoreline to that team,’ he said. ‘You have to give credit to them. This is a really special team that’s been put together. They’re going to be
close to winning it, for sure. I said to the players that at this level you have to have the belief. Similar to last year, it may just take us a game or so to get into the competition again. ‘We see and recognise the level we’re at here and can perform better. ‘This is a level where you have to look after the ball. You have to make it work for you. And in the first half we didn’t do that. ‘We were playing like Under-12s at times. But it’s about confidence and belief and we’re obviously missing some decisive players who can help us at this level. ‘It’s always going to be very, very tough. That’s the reality of it. I don’t want to be too harsh on the players because this is the potential champions of this tournament we were playing. ‘Where we’re at — with all due respect — and where these guys are at isn’t just one or two levels, it’s three or four levels. ‘But what we always have to do is be competitive and we weren’t for that first period of the game. ‘In the second half we were much better and showed the fans that.’ Scrutiny over the failure to secure another central defender in the August window will intensify after right-back Anthony Ralston, 18, was pitched in for a baptism of fire. Praising the young full-back after he went head to head with Neymar, the world’ s most expensive player, Rodgers added: ‘Overall, as an 18year-old coming into that he was excellent. He had some great blocks and the overall experience Tony will get from that will be huge. ‘He has played his first Champions League game against one of the best players in the world. I thought in general he coped very well with it.’ PSG coach Unai Emery praised French superstar Mbappe for overcoming the shock of an attempted assault by a Celtic fan after Cavani made it 3-0 from the penalty spot in the 40th minute. ‘Kylian is a very young player but he has a little experience and nights like this will give him more and more experience. ‘He wants to become a great player and he will grow into that. He showed a lot of confidence tonight. ‘The key thing is he is going to improve more and more. ‘I am really happy with the victory.’