Bully big timers don’t faze us
Boss expects bold show
Brendan Rodgers must look at the millions spent taking Red Bull Leipzig from the fifth tier of German football to the Champions League and wish he could have some of that.
The massive investment means Celt ic’s next Europa League opponents can call upon the services of some of the best players in Europe as they look to upset the German old guard by claiming a firstever Bundesliga title this season.
Their European record has been impressive this year too, with their only loss in eight matches coming against their Red Bull stablemates from Salzburg.
They will be firm favourites to add the scalp of Celtic at home on Thursday and boost their chances of making it out the group.
But while Rodgers can’t help but admire the Leipzig rags-to-riches story, that doesn’t mean he is resigned to defeat when the sides clash in the Red Bull Arena.
The Celtic boss said: “Leipzig are a club who have been on the up for a few years. They have done brilliantly to come from the lower levels and build their way through.
“Both Red Bull sides are strong. If you’re near the top of the Bundesliga as Leipzig are – one of the most competitive leagues in Europe – then you’re a good side.
“Some of these teams may have more money but it doesn’t give them 12 players on the pitch. As long as we go there and show our true way of working and our identity, be strong and resilient, then it gives us an opportunity. We have to fight for everything. It’s 11 versus 11 and we have to try to get a result.
“It is another really good test for us. We go there hoping to be much better than we were when we played Salzburg. But it will be a tough examination.”
Much of Leipzig’s success is thanks to Ralf Rangnick. The veteran has been their sporting director since 2012 and has returned for a second spell as head coach this term.
Rodgers said: “I’ve never met Ralf but I spoke to him on the phone when I was at Liverpool when they were in the second division and looking to come through
“He told me all about the project they were working on. He’s a good guy and someone who has devoted his life to football. He has done a great job with Red Bull, making them very competitive.”
Celtic missed the injured Scott Brown in their 3-1 defeat at Salzburg earlier this month and he could miss out again on Thursday after going off against Hibs yesterday.
It would be a blow to Rodgers who said: “At this level we need as many of our best players as possible to compete – that is fair to say. I felt in the Salzburg game we didn’t play how we wanted and conceded not very good goals.
“Browny is a great reference for the team in midfield where he can take the ball.”
A big positive for Rodgers is Celtic’s ability to find the net on their travels.
He said: “Absolutely. We are confident we can get goals.
“In the first two or three minutes of the Salzburg game we scored. R ight on hal f- time we could have been 2- 0 up.
“So we feel we can score goals. But it is just reinforcing that confidence in our work and how we play.”