Bayern blow, but Rodgers sticks to Celtic plan
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers will not resort to pragmatism despite suffering a 3-0 defeat to German giants Bayern Munich in their Champions League clash last night.
The Northern Irishman had promised to play on the front foot in the Group B encounter and, in an open game, skipper Thomas Muller netted in the 17th minute before right-back Joshua Kimmich headed in a second.
Mats Hummels headed in a third on 51 minutes and although the Scottish champions threatened more in the second half it was a comfortable win for the star-studded home side.
Asked if he could perhaps have been more pragmatic in his approach, Rodgers, whose side lost 5-0 at home to Paris Saint-Germain in their opening fixture before beating Anderlecht 3-0 away, said: “We decide how we play. There is nothing about being pragmatic for the goals we conceded.
“We didn’t defend our box well enough when the ball came in. We could do better with those. But I would rather lose a game playing the way we want to play, and how we want to work, as opposed to sit in and defending for 90 minutes and still lose, if that is the case.
“Myself and my staff and the players had a plan going into the game and there were lots of positives for us and something to look forward to for the second game against them at Celtic Park.”
“It is about constructing a mind-set and a way of working. It is not going to happen overnight. There are lots of elements. We come away to some of these big arenas and we can show our qualities and level of football and that won’t change and we will look to do that as opposed to sitting in and suffering in the game.
“You have to respect the level of opponent but the players are getting better.”
The win overAnderlecht means Celtic are likely to be playing in the Europa League after Christmas and that will represent an improvement for Rodgers’ side, who finished bottom of their Champions League section last season.
Rodgers added: “Progress for us is to be in Europe after Christmas and that is still our focus, but of course we want to give our best in every game.
“My players gave everything. Some of our play was very good, particularly in the second half.”