AND AGGRO Bren is so Red Bullish
way they play. They are in good form so they will fancy it and want to get back at us for the Champions League.
“We’re trying to achieve something so the first game is vital to get the three points.”
Rosenborg go into today’s game with Ronny Deila’s Valerenga top of the Tippeligaen after 21 games. They’ve won eight and drawn one since their qualifier with the Hoops which saw a drastic change in manager.
But Rodgers reckons Celtic have the greater advantage now of a level playing field in terms of domestic readiness.
The Hoops boss said: “It certainly will help us if you think about how early we would normally play them.
“To then be a couple of months down the line will hopefully work in our favour.
“We know their style though. That doesn’t change. And they are a good side with some good players. It was unstable there with the manager leaving but winning games can always change that.”
Despite the disappointment of not reaching a third straight season of Champions League nirvana, Rodgers wants to give the Celtic fans European football beyond Christmas again.
That means treating the second-tier competition the same way.
He said: “The competition itsel f deserves the respect. Every team would Celtic Park, Thursday, 8pm, Live on BT Sport love to be in the Champions League but this year we aren’t.
“Our objective again will be to have European football after Christmas.
“There is an opportunity there, though it is still tough in the modern climate. When you think of the level of opponent we’ve had in the Champions League they’ve been the world’s best.
“But we play Leipzig and they reached the quarter-final last year. We lost to Zenit and then Leipzig beat Zenit.
“Both those Red Bull clubs have been on a journey so they will be tough games for us as well as Rosenborg.
“The level isn’t the same as Bayern Munich but it doesn’t make it any less formidable an opponent.”
McGregor agrees with his boss that the group should be seen as an opportunity rather than a chore – but there’s work to be done before they can talk about a deep run in the tournament.
He said: “We have to start well. We’re not going to put pressure on ourselves by saying quarter-finals or whatever.
“We need to start on Thursday night and try to gather some momentum.”tum.
Rodgers will have staff at the Rosenborgosenborg game this afternoon but admits he could contact his predecessor Deila for any extra detail.
He said: “Ronny’s always therere if we need. I spoke to Ronny whenn I first came in here and he visitedd for one of the games.
“If I think there is any need, or a drastic change in anything, we would do that.”
now sponsored by them, which has raised eyebrows in Group B.
UEFA gave both clubs permission to play in the same competition last summer after a monthlong investigation, as the ruling body claimed their ownership structures allowed it.
However, billionaire Red Bul l chief executive Dietrich Mateschitz was forced to publicly state this week that there would be no dubiety when they play.
He said: “May the better team win. It’s a great story
Brendan Rodgers knows all about Rosenborg but he’ll hope familiarity doesn’t breed contempt amongst his players. The arrival of Filip Benkovic at the back gives Rodgers the chance to establish his 3-5-2 system. Once the players settle to that, they can pick their way to a tight victory.