Q: When you had the injuries last season and when things maybe weren’t quite sticking, was Tuesday night the sort of game you had in your head of where this team could go?
Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, well, I think before that, I think when I sat with Callum in Mallorca, and we were talking about the team and where we could take it and where we want to get to. And that was my vision and a big part of coming back, was to bring a team into Europe that the supporters were craving for, not just to participate, but to compete. But I always knew it was going to be a process of the players gaining confidence in me and me observing them. And of course, when it was a challenge in the first period of last season, then of course it can seem quite distant in terms of what we produced on Tuesday back to them. But that’s the game. I think that what we never lost was our focus on our work, our poise, and our confidence in what we were doing. And then eventually things start to move in the direction that you want. And then you start to produce better performances and more consistent performances.”
Q: Is it difficult to have a performance like that on grass on Tuesday night, and then play on a plastic pitch on Sunday? How difficult is that?
Brendan Rodgers: “Well, that’s always the test of you when you work here at Celtic. You know you’re going to have those highs, or you hope to have those highs like we did in the Champions League. But then you know you’re going into your next game and whether you win, lose or draw, it’s those games that get you there in the first place. So, no, we will respect the game. We can’t have any excuse. We talk about plastic pitches and everything else. But after how we played at the end of last season, to win 5-0 and play at that level, then I can never moan about a plastic pitch again. But our performance was so good. But no, it’s just about focus and concentration. You know when you’re here that you’re going to be in various competitions. We knew we had Hampden on the Saturday. A few days later, we’ve got a Champions League game and then we know we’ve got Kilmarnock. But we’ll be ready and look forward to it.”
The Celtic Star: When you’re watching the game back, the press for the second goal, that must have delighted you?
Brendan Rodgers: “Aye, it’s one of my best goals since I’ve been here. Because everyone loves the nice part of the game. But when you can convince players to do the hard pressing and the hard running and make those last steps inside the press against top-quality opposition, who are renowned for that themselves. We’ve already gone through that and showed the players that. We showed it from our analytical angle and we showed it from an angle from the level behind the goal, where you hear the crowd and you hear how much joy that gives supporters, seeing their team press with that hunger and that desire. I always say, if you press well, you pass well. And I think that’s been the best game, a demonstration of that on Tuesday night. So, yes, the second goal was a great goal.”
The Celtic Star: The fans even seemed to be even noisier on Tuesday night. Was that their payback for the support that they gave the team in Dortmund after the match?
Brendan Rodgers: “Yes, I think that it was a big moment in Dortmund, I felt, because we all weren’t in a great mood after the game, of course. And you know why you’re playing. We know, especially here at Celtic, the fan base, it’s people’s breakfast, lunch and dinner. That’s what Celtic is. So we knew it was their life. So to be on the end of that scoreline over there and then to walk to the supporters and still feel that energy and that support they gave the team, that meant a lot. And that gave a lot of confidence to the players. And obviously, we then come back, reflect back on it and look to correct the mistakes that we made. So, but hopefully, and hopefully still they’re in, still feeling that effect of the other night, because that’s why we do it. We do it to entertain the supporters and, as I said, Celtic Park’s built for a night like that. Big game, a big performance and an absolutely fanatical fan base giving you the energy.
