The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Familiar foes for Rodgers as Europa League draw sends Celtic to Russia
Celtic boss will renew rivalries with Mancini’s Russian side
Celtic’s Europa League draw against Roberto Mancini’s Zenit St Petersburg has provided familiar territory for Brendan Rodgers.
The Hoops boss was in charge at Liverpool at the same stage of the competition in 2013 when the Reds lost on away goals to the Russian side.
Speaking at Celtic’s Lennoxtown training complex after the last-32 draw, Rodgers revealed he could also have linked up with Italian boss Mancini at Manchester City in 2010 when the Northern Irishman was between jobs.
Zenit will visit Parkhead on February 15 with the return game in Russia the following week.
Rodgers said: “I was there with Liverpool. We played the first leg away and lost 2-0 when they had obviously big investment in the team at the time.
“We had played well out there but gave a couple of sloppy goals away which was disappointing.
“In the second leg at home we went 1-0 down early on which was a 3-0 deficit but got back the three goals and we just needed one more.
“We had 25 minutes/half-hour to score it and went close and couldn’t just make it so we went out on away goals.
“I think they are doing OK in their league. They have a few experienced players and I remember Branislav Ivanovic from Chelsea, who is there
“We are delighted to be in the draw, it is a really exciting game for us.
“St Petersburg is a beautiful city from my memory so we will look forward to that when the game comes along and it will be nice to see Roberto Mancini again.”
Rodgers recalled how he almost joined Mancini as a first-team coach at Manchester City before he joined
Swansea.
“When I was rejected as a manager at Reading and was in between jobs I didn’t think I was going to get a manager’s job,” he said.
“I was in talks with Manchester City about maybe going back there as a firstteam coach.
“I spoke to the club, all went well and I flew out to Milan to meet Roberto.
“We had a nice chat and it ended up that not long after that I got the job at Swansea as a manager.
“We have come across each other since, he is a good guy, nice guy, but I haven’t seen him for a couple of years now.”
Rodgers is also familiar with the problems Zenit may have playing amid a three-month winter break which started following last night’s 0-0 away draw with Terek Grozny.
He said: “It doesn’t make it the easiest. We experience that a different way ourselves when we play in the Champions League qualifiers.
“Some of the teams are in season and we are just coming back and we are playing very important games, in our pre-season.
“So I suppose they have it the other way. They play tonight and then I think they will be having their break and then they are into these important games.
“So you can still qualify but of course if you are in rhythm and in season then it does make it a little bit easier.”
It remains to be seen what capacity Zenit’s stadium will be set at for the visit of Celtic as the Russian club again found themselves in hot water with Uefa.
European football’s governing body opened up disciplinary proceedings following the Europa League group stage match between Real Sociedad and
Weare delighted to be in the draw, it is a really exciting game for us. BRENDAN RODGERS
Zenit at Anoeta on December 7, which was won 3-1 by the visitors.
Zenit were charged with acts of damage, setting off of a firework, throwing of objects and lack of order inside the stadium and the case will be dealt with by the Uefa control, ethics and disciplinary body on February 22, the day of the home match against the Hoops.
Uefa have already ordered a partial
closure of the 56,000-plus capacity Saint Petersburg stadium for their next match.
The Russian club were found guilty of racist behaviour through a “discriminatory banner” praising former Bosnian Serb military leader Ratko Mladic and setting off fireworks during the home 2-1 group stage win against Macedonian side FK Vardar on November 23.
Zenit were also fined 10,000 euro (£8,800) and told to put on display a banner with the wording “#Equal Game” and the Uefa logo on it.
Premiership leaders Celtic are back in league action tomorrow night when they host Hamilton.
The Hoops will be looking to get back to winning ways after Hibs fought back for a draw on Sunday from 2-0 down.