Rodgers: Euro dream begins for real tonight

BRENDAN RODGERS insists Celtic’s Champions League campaign starts for real against Manchester City tonight following their seven-goal mauling in Barcelona. The Scottish champions endured a brutal opening to Group C two weeks ago when they were ruthlessly dismantled by Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar. Now Celtic Park welcomes Pep Guardiola’s in-form side, who can equal the best-ever start to a season by an English club with an 11th consecutive win if they emerge victorious. City boast a squad which cost a staggering £419million and are huge favourites thanks to the triple threat of Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Raheem Sterling. Buoyed by a record showing just three defeats in 24 home games in the group stage, however,

Rodgers has urged his players to seize the opportunity to reboot their campaign. ‘Barcelona was difficult for the players with the level of opponent they faced,’ said the Celtic boss. ‘But I think now there is a realisation that we are actually in the tournament. We are in the group stage and we have earned the right to be here. ‘They can reflect on that performance in Barcelona, but now this is where it starts. We are in it and belief has been growing. ‘We are improving. We want to try and impose our way of working on the game. ‘The players now are ready to begin for real what I would say are our attempts in the Champions League.’ Rodgers, who will restore Craig Gordon to the starting line-up tonight for the Scotland goalkeeper’s first-ever appearance in the group stage, also insisted his team will be more aggressive and streetwise than they were in the Nou Camp. ‘You don’t just write off the night in Barcelona,’ he added. ‘It’s a great learning process. On the night, it’s not so nice when you go through that. ‘You have to learn from it. This is the process, not only for this club, but for Scottish football over the next few years. ‘We come from a domestic level which is tough — but European level is completely different. Until you are in it and experience it, only then will you improve. ‘I’m not saying we are not going out to win the game, that they are only learning games. ‘We might go two games without picking up points. We will do our very best, that’s all we can do. But we know the reality. ‘Everyone understands they are tough games, but we are trying to ensure the team believe they can get the points, that they can go and perform well.’