Brendan Rodgers brimming with enthusiasm and anticipation for his Celtic side

Brendan Rodgers was this evening brimming with enthusiasm and anticipation for his Celtic side as they get set to face what could well be the most formidable opponent of the season tomorrow evening in the Westfalenstadion in the Rhineland.  

Dortmund made it all the way to the Champions League final last year and were unlucky to lose out in the end to Real Madrid, who don’t lose European finals unless they are playing Aberdeen!*

This is also happening in Dortmund this evening!

Back to Brendan. The Celtic manager spoke to the media ahead of the Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund. Here’s everything that was said…

Q: Sum up your excitement, your thoughts, and your emotions as you head into this year’s Champions League.

Brendan Rodgers: “Well, clearly we’re very excited. We got off to a really good start in the last round. So we’ve come here to a stadium very much like Celtic Park in terms of that they breathe, football, and we’re all excited by the challenge. So yeah, pleased to have just arrived and get ready for the game.”

 Brendan Rodgers Celtic, Head Coach UEFA Champions League Press Conference, Celtic 30 09 2024. Photo BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Buriakov

Q: What do you need to see from your side? What has to go right in order to get the result tomorrow night?

Brendan Rodgers:  “I think for us it’s looking to bring our game to the next level. I think how we’ve been performing over probably the last six, or seven months has just been increasing. Now we’ve come to this level and we’re under no illusions about what. We’re playing against a team that is challenging the very top end of elite football. But for us, I’ve always said, whether it’s domestically or whether it’s away in this competition, it’s making us a really difficult team to play against with and without the ball.

“So for us, that’s what we want to be able to do. I’m not looking for perfection, I’m just looking for us to be really, really difficult to play against and give everything we have. Like I say, bring our game, which is to press, to fight, to run. We know at times that quality drives you back and then it’s having that resilience in those moments. But we also know that we have a game that can hurt teams as well, with our football and our speed. So I’m really excited about seeing that.”

Q: What would it mean and how big of a statement do you think it would be if you were to get the result tomorrow night?

Brendan Rodgers:  “It’s the second of eight games. Whatever happens after this game, we’ll arrive back into the changing room and I still know that I’ve got a very good team. That’s still got a lot of progression to make but what a great test for us. A great test to come up against a top team with top players. I’m looking forward to seeing that and as I said, I’m very relaxed but focused in that we can get a result that can build on the first game’s result.”

Q: Is this almost the perfect place to see if you can do that here? You’ve scored 16 goals in your last three games. Do you feel this is the perfect time for this kind of fixture?

Brendan Rodgers Celtic, Head Coach UEFA Champions League Press Conference, Celtic 30 09 2024 Photo  BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Buriakov

Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, I think we’re arriving at a great place. Again, I track it back to pre-season. The games that we played there, we built up pre-season with some big teams and we were able to look at certain aspects of how we wanted to play at this level. I was very, very pleased with what I’ve seen and that has just continued right the way through. So to come here, it’s a great opportunity for us and I’m excited about that.”

Q: In terms of team news, is there anything changed from the weekend? How’s everyone looking?

Brendan Rodgers: “Mostly everyone here. Obviously, Cam (Carter-Vickers) is not available. We’ll see what he’s like going into next weekend but he’s not here for this evening.”

Q: How big a blow is that to not have Cameron? He’s been such a stalwart for you at the back.

Brendan Rodgers:  “Clearly, he’s a top-class player for us. He’s missed a little bit of Champions League football in his time. Five of the 12 games that the club has played, he’s unfortunately not been able to play in. But yes, we’ve got other players. It’s always an opportunity for someone else to come in and hopefully, we can get Cam back sooner rather than later.

“But like I say, we can’t overthink it. We will rely on a collective. There’s not one player that brings our results and how we’ve been this season. Of course, he’s a very important player, Cam. But for us to get a result tomorrow evening, it will be by the collective.”

 Cameron Carter-Vickers  during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Hearts at Celtic Park on 14 September 2024. Photo Malcolm Mackenzie PSI

Q: You mentioned how when you come into the Champions League, these big teams can force you onto the back foot. Maybe that transition has been difficult in Europe in years gone past. Different this time?

Brendan Rodgers:  “Yes, that’s what you’re trying to build upon. After this campaign, it’s continuing to build. I feel very good going into our first game, feeling that we’ve got certain attributes and facets within the team that maybe we haven’t had.

“Part of that is the preparation going into it. So I feel in a really good place with the squad. Just because you bring in one or two players doesn’t mean you’re going to win the thing. But it certainly allows us to be competitive and that’s what we want to see over the course of this campaign, that we can make that step from qualification and participating into competing at this level. What I’ve seen from the mindset of our players and how we’ve produced at our performance level, that’s what we aim to do tomorrow evening.”

Q: They had a great run in the competition last season. What are you expecting from them?

Brendan Rodgers: “Clearly a very, very tough game. Offensively, the team is very good. They lost some players in the summer but I look at the team and we’ve got some fantastic players in that middle to top section. So they’re always going to put you on the back foot at times with their qualities.

“Obviously, they’ve conceded some goals but that sometimes happens when you’re trying to find the balance and the structure within the team. He’s obviously taken over and he’ll be fine-tuning that. Whilst he’s seen the team expected to challenge at the very highest level. It’s a top side with top players and we have to be right on it to get a good performance and result.”

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor David Faulds has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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