RAPID VIENNA 1 CELTIC 1 RAPID FIRE
Moussa nets on comeback and is raring to go for Euro ties says boss Rodgers
The French hitman slammed a second-half penalty as Celts stepped up their pre- season preparations with this draw in Amstetten.
The Hoops stuttered at times in the baking heat and were made to graft against the Austrian cup finalists. Rodgers’ men went behind on the stroke of half-time when a Dedryck Boyata error led to Joelinton netting a penalty after going down following a sl ight touch f rom Craig Gordon.
Bu t Dembele then got his name back on the scoresheet with his f irst Hoops goal since March hav ing missed the last two months of the season with injury. Rodgers was thrilled with the workout – and delighted the hitman is back in business. The Hoops boss said: “You can see his composure for the penalty but you can see his presence as well when he plays.
“Moussa has been with the French Under-21 team. He has been training and working and hasn’t had a lot of time off.
“He has come back in really good condition. He has been working hard and everyone is fighting for their place.”
Rodgers admitted his side struggled at times in the searing heat but several of his stars got pass marks – including new Bhoy Jonny Hayes. He said: “Jonny was excellent as well.
“You can see him working his way into it. His pace was very good. That is why we have brought him here. Those moments when you have to go up the pitch he has that great quality of speed and control.
“We also had Tom Rogic coming back in. He was outstanding. You can see he has been playing a lot over the last four or five weeks. So, yeah, it was a pleasing performance.
“I was much happier in terms of our tactical idea in the second half. Most importantly at this stage, we got no injuries and a good level of fitness.”
It may have been a bounce game in a little ground in Amstetten but this was no friendly affair. It was never going to be given the bad blood between the clubs.
The infamous Rapid rammy of 1984 has gone down in history but not many of the current squad will know much about Rudi Weinhofer’s Parkhead shenanigans in a trilogy of