Brendan Rodgers reflecting on Europa League opener in Belgrade…
Kelechi Iheanacho of Celtic celebrates his goal Crvena zvezda v Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Football, Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia – 24 September 2025 Belgrade Rajko Mitic Stadium Serbia Photo Nikola Krstic/Shutterstock
“I still feel it was a game that we could have won, being a little more progressive in our play and obviously we conceded from a corner which is a static position so we ought to defend that better. But I still feel coming away with a point, away from home in Europe – yeah we want to win every single game we play but we’re not entitled to do that, we have to earn it. What you mustn’t do when you go away from home in a tough venue is lose. We showed that mentality, that strength and stayed resilient and now we’ve got a couple of home games and that’s where you want to maximise your points.”
Brendan Rodgers on Kelechi Iheanacho and how his season is going to develop…
Red Star Belgrade 1-1 Celtic. Kelechi Iheanacho of Celtic celebrates his goal Crvena zvezda v Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Football, Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia – 24 September 2025. Belgrade Rajko Mitic Stadium Serbia Photo Nikola Krstic Shutterstock
“The reason for bringing him here at the time was we needed a striker in and he, in my time working with him for over four year, I know everything he brings on and off the pitch. So I think he’ll prove by the end of the season to the supporters and his teammates, what a great signing he’ll be for us.
“He’s a great guy around the place, he’s got a lovely demeanour, he’s always available in the main – touch wood – his robustness and his love for football that he clearly has and obviously he loves scoring goals. So I think this is a really good time for us to get him and also hat we can give him as a football club and a team so really pleased for him.
Brendan Rodgers on Liam Scales being superb this season
Liam Scales of Celtic wins a header from a corner during the Scottish Premiership match, theRangers vs Celtic, Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow, 31/08/2025. Photo Colin Poultney PSI
“I think that Liam Scales has been playing at a really high level, a consistent level. Scalesy has been superb in the team. He’s someone I trust, I know what I’m going to get every single game from him every week so yes it’s been a good start for us.
Brendan Rodgers on the challenges posed by Sporting Braga
“I think they’ve had their struggles in the league but had a good result against Feyenoord so that got them the three points in the first game. Like all Portuguese teams they’ll be well organised. They jump between 3-4-3 in there structure and 4-3-3 so we’ll see what they will bring. They have got gifted players, talented players and in games at this level are always going to be a good challenge.
Brendan Rodgers of Celtic Crvena zvezda v Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Football, Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia – 24 September 2025 Belgrade Rajko Mitic Stadium Serbia Photo Nikola Krstic Shutterstock
“But I’m really happy for us to be at home over our next to games as it’s a really good opportunity for us to impose ourselves in this early stage of the group. Every time we play I always want us to be creative and be attacking and play with a real speed and tempo in their game. That’s when my teams are at their best, then that’s how they are playing.
“So we want to bring that to Celtic Park so the supporters get behind that and enjoy that and for us to have a really good performance and of course get the three points. Like I said at the beginning our whole duty is to win and that’s what we want to do.”
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Celtic more than capable of beating itself on current form especially if the ineffectual Ralston Engels Maida are picked, or at least securing another bore draw. Time to get Liewwell in the dugout seeing as he’s already picking the team.
We have to start seeing progress at europa league level, to even consider getting back to becoming CL level for next season, simple as that.
We are nowhere near such levels, if we aren’t capable of scoring goals, the deciding factor in matches.
Losing the amount of goals from last season, was always going to be a massive problem to resolve, especially within the markets we operate within.
Hardly helped with Maeda not on his game either at present.
Attacking players need goals to boost their own confidence levels, so hopefully this gets resolved quickly, as starting to become a requirement for ourselves, especially within our bigger games.
We are yet to click in that department, and no better time than the next available game.
Even at that, we still need more than just trying to depend upon our 3 starting players in such areas also.
That still looks a work in progress, especially with the 5 sub rule in operation nowadays.
So changes will occur during the match tomorrow night, and little signs to date that such changes are going to actually make an impact for ourselves to date.
The longer the lack of goals continue, the more the pressure will increase upon the attacking options.
Will take any form of victory’s over the next 2 games, for now.
Especially with the amount of work that still looking like a requirement for ourselves, over the international break in our attacking areas.
Hopefully there chances will improve with a better functional midfield also. With the amount of goals lost from last season, the midfield areas are hopefully going to start contributing more also within the goal scoring and assisting department also.
They have hardly crowned themselves in glory either, within the start of the season imo.