HIT YOUR PEAK
Rodgers: My Bhoys are a match for anyone in Europa League, now’s the time to prove it
BRENDAN RODGERS believes Celtic at their peak can be a match for anyone in the Europa League.
The Hoops are gunning for a spot in the last 16 when they face Zenit St Petersburg in Russia tonight. Rodgers had described his team as underdogs ahead of the crunch ties with the Russians. But an almost flawless first-leg performance has convinced Rodgers his men could go toe to toe with any side left in the competition when at their strongest. He said: “If we can play at
THE roof will be closed, the warm air will be pumped into the place and the 67,000 sellout will make it a furnace.
But when the heat is truly turned on in the Krestovsky Stadium, Brendan Rodgers reckons it won’t be blowing in Celtic’s direction – it will be flowing full blast at under-pressure Zenit St Petersburg.
Rodgers was as cool as the snow that cracked under his feet as he walked in the front door of his team hotel last night.
If there’s tension in the air hanging with the freezing fog the Celtic manager doesn’t appear to be feeling it. Tonight the spotlight and the scrutiny fall on his Parkhead players as they look to defend their 1-0 aggregate lead and move into the last 16 of the Europa League.
But while success would be a cause for huge satisfaction and celebration in the Celtic camp Rodgers senses it’s simply what’s expected when it comes to his Russian rivals.
Having splashed out more than £100million to build a team, Roberto Mancini was left cold by last week’s first-leg loss. No amount of roubles spent could match the performance from Celtic as they dominated Zenit.
It stung the Russians. Ever since Glasgow they have spoken about redressing the balance, how they’ll be better with a competitive game under their belts and how they’ll make the Hoops pay.
But actions speak far louder than words and Rodgers said: “There’s only so much you can do in a week. They will expect to play better. They have to.
“Last week we were the real team of dominance. When you have big players and made that investment of course they will want to show their true face. “They are good players
and have quality but so do we and we showed that last week. If we get to a similar level we have a great chance.”
Asked if the circumstances put Zenit under bigger pressure, he added: “Yeah, it always is. My view doesn’t change from before the first game. Everyone would have said this was a really difficult tie for Celtic and that Zenit would expect to go through. Everyone was clear on that.
“People will say they were unfit or whatever reason but that is a disservice to our players because they were brilliant.
“Of course Zenit are going to be motivated and will want to show in front of their own supporters they are much better than that.
“For us it’s a case of matching that intensity and aggression, staying calm and when we have the ball show our qualities. It’s a dangerous game for Zenit and if we can put it all together we’ll be in with a great chance.
“We don’t have to be perfect to win the game but we know we need to be at a high level.”
Rodgers didn’t say as much but there was a feel to his chat that he senses a repeat of last week’s performance might just be enough.
Celtic played with pace and aggression but were also controlled, concise and confident.
It was the type of display he has craved from his team on the big Euro stage and he said: “For the level we played, the concentration was very good. The tactical plan was brilliant. I was delighted with that aspect.
“We’ve analysed the game again closely to see if there are other ways we can cause a problem. We can come here and defend like we did in the first game, show the composure on the ball and know we have quality players who can create chances.”
Rodgers has been here before. And the outcome wasn’t rosy. Five years ago his Liverpool side lost 2-0 to Zenit on their way out of this competition at the same stage.
Much has changed. The roof over the pitch for a start and he said: “If it keeps minus 17 out that will be quite nice!”
Rodgers resisted the urge to give his players a peek at the place, preferring to train in Glasgow yesterday morning as has become the routine before flying out and checking into base at around 9pm local time.
He said: “It allows us to have an extra period of time working on our preparation and tactics. “Last time I was here we played in a really open old-style stadium. It looks a terrific venue and the pitch looks very good which suits us. Fortunately we have a group of players who play most weeks in front of 60,000 people at home so that’s nothing new and we’ll really embrace it.
“With Liverpool we were led to believe there were a number of issues coming here to play but I didn’t find that.
“There were obviously security issues and around the stadium there was more of a presence than normal.
“There had been a racist element attached to things out here but we didn’t find that at all.
“It was a good trip apart from losing the game but it’s a new stadium and I’m looking forward to the match.”
Rodgers didn’t get a chance to savour success last time but reckons he might milk it this time around if Celtic do the business.
Unusually the manager lost his calm demeanour with a sprint of delight down the touchline when Callum McGregor hit the stunning first-leg winner.
Rodgers added: “It might be a full lap this time! It’s emotion. One, we were playing well and two was the brilliance of the goal.
“To see our young squad play with such confidence and score like that took over.
“I take pride in staying calm but I’m not different to any other manager in how I eel inside.
“I trained myself to keep my emotions intact but my feelings are like anyone else inside.
“I tend to reserve it and contain it but sometimes it comes out. I’m an emotional guy and it was a great moment for us in the game.
“Listen, hopefully I’m running up the touchline again. I would take that.”
We don’t need to be perfect to win but we know we must be at a high level BRENDAN RODGERS