Moussa has the perfect arrogance for big stage
BRENDAN RODGERS
WHEN the story of Celtic’s adventures in Europe this season is eventually penned, it will contain no little scope for regret.
Shorn of his preferred central defensive partnership against Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, Brendan Rodgers saw his makeshift side torn asunder.
At the other end of the field, the hitherto 25 minutes of group-stage action Moussa Dembele has witnessed has been equally as wounding.
If goals are a striker’s currency, last year’s Champions League escapade provided the perfect illustration of why the young Frenchman’s trading value was soon being talked about in figures resembling telephone numbers.
A scorer against both Astana and Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the qualifiers, Dembele announced himself on the big stage with two goals against Manchester City and another against Borussia Monchengladbach.
By the time January arrived, there wasn’t a major power in Europe who wasn’t watching his every move. A transfer fee of £30million did not seem too fanciful in the current climate.
Rodgers, naturally, would not have wished any of his players any misfortune, but the one side benefit of the recurring hamstring injury the player has sustained over the past six months is that it has kept those would-be suitors at arm’s length.
Tomorrow, though, Rodgers fully anticipates the kind of return to the big stage that might just have them flocking again.
‘Moussa has got that big-game mentality,’ said the Celtic manager. ‘You saw it at Aberdeen last week. That was in a domestic game, but you go into Europe and he’s the same. He’s a big-game player.
‘It’s a belief. For some players, things like that can be a blur but, for him, he believes. He has that nice charisma and arrogance for the level.’
These momentous nights under the lights at Celtic Park can do strange things to people. For some, they are just too big. The atmosphere turns them to stone.
For Dembele, it’s only ever a source of inspiration. When a ball dropped at his feet with his back to goal against City last September, the overhead kick he executed was sheer instinct. Some players need no one to tell them they belong in that environment.
‘It’s half the battle,’ said Rodgers. ‘At this level, you know there’s lots of talent, but you have to believe.
‘I’ve worked with players that are big, big talents but they’re not as good as another talent with less talent because the other player’s got the mentality.
‘Of course, you need a lot of physical, technical and tactical attributes for that level but what’s between your ears is vital.’
Still only 21, no one would claim the Frenchman is even close to being the finished article. A thigh knock notwithstanding, the figure of Robert Lewandowski will provide the perfect illustration of a striker who is exactly that.
‘Moussa has a long way to go,’ stressed Rodgers. ‘Lewandowski’s been doing it consistently for a few years at the highest level.
‘So Moussa’s at the beginning of his career, along with Leigh (Griffiths) at this level.
‘He showed last year that, when he’s fit, he’s got that capability to play at that level and that’s all you want.
‘Now it’s the case of over the next few years consistently showing that he can do that.’
A comprehensive defeat in Bavaria two weeks ago sees Celtic go in very much as second favourites tomorrow but there remains a kind of alchemy about Parkhead on these kind of nights that always adds a degree of uncertainty to the outcome.
‘Celtic Park is unbelievable,’ said Rodgers. ‘I have been lucky in my managerial career to have worked in the Champions League for Liverpool, who have a great stadium and atmosphere.
‘You go to places like the Allianz Arena and the Nou Camp and that is fantastic, but there is nothing to compare with the noise of Celtic Park on a Champions League night.
‘There is a rawness and my English guys when they came up asked me: “Who has rolled in the hyenas?”. It is just the noise. That is just sheer passion.
‘The history of the players that speak about the atmosphere of playing at Celtic Park is not a myth. Guys like Paolo Maldini have spoken about this and said that you have to at least play at Celtic Park once in your life. The Messis and Iniestas of this world have said the same.’
There was a time when such tributes were paid exclusively by the vanquished. The turn of the century saw Celtic compile an impressive list of victims on their own ground: AC Milan, Juventus, Manchester United and Barcelona to name but a few. More recently, the old place has been plundered once too often for comfort. Celtic took just one point from nine on home soil last season. A 5-0 hiding to PSG continued the trend this term. Participating in the Champions League each year is of paramount importance. But a perfect attendance record shouldn’t be the only source of pride.
‘In terms of status, history, support base, Celtic is right up there,’ added Rodgers.
‘We have to earn the right to keep getting there.
‘Our path is getting harder each year, but we have to find a way to get through to the level to keep representing the club and keep pushing Celtic in Europe.
‘Like I say, our challenge this year is to be in Europe after Christmas and that’s what we hopefully can do.
‘But it’s going to be a brilliant evening and great for the Celtic supporters again to see a team of Bayern’s quality at Celtic Park.’