CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
Rodgers hails Brown as Celts take a big step into group stage
BRENDAN RODGERS last night praised ‘brilliant’ scott Brown following the Celtic skipper’s late, potentially crucial, Champions League strike against Hapoel Be’er sheva.
Insisting the midfielder could still cut it in the English Premier League at the age of 31, a relieved Rodgers praised his team for digging out a 5-2 first-leg lead over the Israeli champions.
Streaking into a 3-0 half-time lead thanks to Tom
Rogic and a Leigh Griffiths double, the Scottish champions looked to have a foot in the £20million group stage. But the loss of two catastrophic goals within three, second-half minutes teed up a nervy finale, substitute Moussa Dembele scoring three minutes after taking to the field and Brown smashing a vital fifth in 86 minutes. ‘I thought Scott was brilliant,’ said Rodgers. ‘Over the course of pre-season, he has become lean. I have seen him from the outside before, but I thought he looked powerful. ‘I look at Scott now and, having worked in England, this is a guy who could play in the English Premier League, no question, but he loves it here, his heart is here and he wants to see his career out here at Celtic. ‘He was outstanding with the ball. His goal driving forward was a wonderful finish and he almost scored early on in the game. ‘His dominance in the game, you see the importance of Browny. As I’ve said all season, he’s really impressed me tactically and how he’s covered gaps. ‘I thought he was one of many great performers.’ Be’er Sheva coach Barak Bakhar described a frantic match as ‘crazy’ admitting his team now need a ‘sensational’ result at home on Tuesday. But, concerned by the defending which handed the visitors a foothold in tie, Rodgers insists his ‘exciting’ team are a work in progress, with work to do yet. ‘It’s a brilliant result for us,’ he admitted. ‘We would obviously prefer 3-0, but 5-2 really shows the level the team played at. ‘I thought over the course of the game, first half we were excellent. We pressed really well, aggressively, created opportunities. ‘We started the second half well and it was pleasing. We had a spell when we defended very poorly for 10 for 12 minutes. We conceded two poor goals and didn’t reduce the space. ‘So then there is a question asked of you and that’s what we were talking about before the game. From 3-2 to go on and win the game, 5-2 really shows that mental strength of the players as well as quality. ‘We are nowhere near the finished article in terms of where I want them to be but we have an exciting team with quality.’