Rodgers demands response

Manager Brendan Rodgers admits Celtic’s pride suffered a blow in midweek and is looking for a response against Ross County today.

The Hoops’ 5-0 defeat to Paris St Germain in their Champions League opener on Tuesday was their heaviest at home in a European competition.

The Scottish champions, however, remain unbeaten on the domestic front since May 2016, and Rodgers wants to get back to winning ways in the Premiership match against the Staggies at Parkhead.

“Our professional pride hurts,” said the Northern Irishman, referring to the PSG game. “We are used to winning games and we are used to, I suppose, inflicting that type of performance on opponents.

“That is a setback against one of the great teams but the beauty is we learn from it, that is key and we have always shown that.

“The players were great in training and very focused on their next game.

“We are always preparing for the next game in football.

“Ross County will be a difficult game, a different challenge for us.”

Callum McGregor hopes Celtic’s response to their harsh European lesson is as positive as it was following last season’s Catalan calamity.

The 24-year-old midfielder, who signed a new contract until 2021 two days after the hammering by the French club, referred back to the 7-0 thrashing by Barcelona at the start of the 2016-17 tournament which was the Glasgow club’s heaviest defeat in Europe.

Brendan Rodgers