BRENDAN RODGERS can now look forward to playing AEK Athens – until this evening’s match concluded in Norway he hadn’t given the challenge of playing the Greek Champions much though – and he will begin preparations on the flight home, as he contemplates a job well done against Rosenborg.
Celtic played their football at Paradise and got the lead that they brought and defended tonight in a goalless draw. Rosenborg tried but failed to threaten Celtic in any meaningful way. The damage was done last Wednesday and Rodgers is already planning a repeat scenario for the next two midweeks.
“They are all tough games no matter which round. We have got through and the first leg is at home and that is going to be very important for us. We have been really aggressive at home in my time here,” the manager said this evening.
“If you’re positive at home you can get a scoreline that will get you through, you think of the Beer-Sheva game, Astana as well and obviously the home leg in this tie got us through.
“I will watch Athens now we are playing them. They are 11 human beings like us and it will be a difficult game for both sides. After this game there are another two rounds to go, but if that’s what it takes to get through, then that’s what we will do. It was either Athens or Cork and we are happy with Athens.
“Rosenborg came to Celtic Park last year and it was 0-0, so when we came here we expected them to push. We showed a maturity and I told the players I am very proud of them. We will play better football and we need to be cleaner with our passing and build-up, but you have to show resilience and defend, and I think we did that well.
“They are all tough games no mater which round. We have got through and the first leg is at home and that is going to be very important for us. We have been really aggressive at home in my time here. If you’re positive at home you can get a scoreline that will get you through, which is what happened in this tie.”
