Brendan: It’s all about prestige, not pound signs
Glory the only motivation Hoops need
BRENDAN RODGERS is adamant it’s prestige and not pound signs motivating his Celtic players for Champions League glory. Belgian media have revealed Anderlecht are offering their squad huge sums as incentives for success in Brussels tonight, having already having banked £11.1million for group stage qualification. But Hoops boss Rodgers insists his players are fired by finessing the name of their club, not just finance. Asked if the bonuses will motivate his rivals, he said: “We shall see. At this level, the resources and finances you get if you progress can be worth it. “But I don’t think, for most footballers, it is a consequence of
BRENDAN RODGERS could not have chosen a worse country in the world to learn from one of his most sobering experiences in football.
There are 180 breweries in Belgium, producing 1.8 billion litres of beer annually, and around 1000 Celtic fans made their way into Brussels yesterday to help deplete the stocks ahead of tonight’s game with Anderlecht.
Their manager admits he and his players were left somewhat glass-eyed by their first Champions League group stage encounter of the season, a 5-0 drubbing against the champagne football of PSG.
They have been in recovery ever since – fairly successfully too, with 10 goals scored in their last three league games and none conceded, including a comprehensive 2-0 win over rivals Rangers on Saturday.
The SPFL champions have never won in Belgium, admittedly having played here only three times in the past, and their group stage record on the road hardly inspires confidence, with just that single win in 27 games against Spartak Moscow four years ago.
However, Rodgers remains confident his side can deliver some froth against the Belgian champs with a victory that would go a long way to ensuring Europa League football, at least, beyond Christmas.
Ever the optimist, his glass remains half full as he reflects on the night at Parkhead a fortnight ago he reckons could be the making of his team, no matter the thumping hangover in the days that followed defeat to Neymar and Co.
He said: “Games like the PSG one are little reality checks, that’s what it’s like at this level.
“I always tend to think there is learning in every situation. It’s about facing problems you want to solve afterwards.
“Even after the game against Rangers on Saturday we reflected on it and looked at things we could have done better.
“We analysed things that could make us better in the future – and it was the same against PSG.
“They’re very humbling experiences for players. It’s boys who are used to winning and when you come up against that level of play at the very top level of the game then it’s tough.
“But we’ve got an honest group. They’ve got spirit and we feel they’ll improve over the course of the campaign. We saw that last year too. We’ll do everything we can to fight for the result, whoever we play.
“This is a level where you are learning all the time. Just because we have been on the run we’ve been on for the last 15 months or so doesn’t mean you’re not susceptible to good performances.
“Our players, in terms of what they have given the club and the nation with their performances, have been outstanding.
“But every now and then against the top players in world football they might just miss it.
“It’s important for us as a team and a club that we don’t just see the qualification as the success.
“I want to try to create a mentality here that we can come and believe we can get a result wherever we go.”
It’s a harsh viewpoint but an argument nonetheless to declare Celtic under Rodgers have won against
I want to create a mentality that we feel we can get a result wherever BRENDAN RODGERS
sides they have always been expected to beat – and shown staggering levels of consistency in the process. However, their group stage campaign last year failed to yield a single win for the first time since they first qualified for that exalted level under Martin O’Neill 15 years previously. The Hoops have not won any of their last 16 European group stage fixtures in the Champions League or Europa League, with a record of nine draws and seven defeats. However, Anderlecht represent a chance to right that wrong, not least as they have had a wretched start to their own domestic campaign and their playing budget, at around £40 million, is not considerably more than the sums Rodgers must work with in Glasgow. He added: “I’m not sure how we compare with Anderlecht, I haven’t seen figures. “In a football sense, there are some fantastic players in Belgium. You only need to look at the era they are in now.
“With a population of around 10 million, the players they produce are very good.
“I don’t really know the depth of the level in the domestic league here but they are the champions of their country.
“If you look at the other champions we have played – Astana were a good side, Rosenborg beat Ajax who were the Europa League finalists last season.
“Anderlecht reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League so they will be tough.
“They are no mugs, they are a good side with a good history.
“They haven’t started the season as they would have wanted but the Champions League is a great motivating factor for them to kick on.
“I’m not sure how passionate and partisan the fans are here. It looks a little stadium, similar to Rosenborg. It’s tight, the pitch is nice, you want to gain control.
“Our idea is always to look to attack and be aggressive. The consequence for us is to have the ball and create chances.
“They’ve played two different systems in the two games so far under their interim coach, 4-1-4-1 and a 3-4-3.
“When it’s a new coach and the systems change, you have to try to anticipate. So it makes it that little bit more difficult.”
Increasingly, Rodgers’ work at Celtic will come to be defined in Europe. His team showed confidence and adaptability in the group stage last season, especially on the road at Borussia Monchengladbach and Manchester City, but were found wanting in Barcelona and at home to the Germans.
Genuine signs of progress at this level will be evident especially if Celtic can qualify for Europe after Christmas, most likely in the Europa League.
Rodgers said: “Realistically, this is a game both clubs are looking at with a real aim of playing in Europe after Christmas but all matches at this level are tough.
“We have confidence in our team and it’s about bringing our game to these matches.
“We’ll be looking to impose our style again.”