Brendan Rodgers has challenged his fringe players to step up and make their mark in Germany this evening. Celtic take on RB Leipzig in the Europa League without Brown, Forrest, Rogic and Griffiths and with Benkovic a major doubt so there will be a chance for less regular performers to play and show what they can do.
“Where we are as a club, for these types of games and this level of opponent, you want your best players available.
“It’s something we can’t control. There will be some players coming in and they will get an invaluable experience in a fantastic arena.
“This is what it takes to play for Celtic. It’s not just about the domestic league, you are working to qualify for European games and coming away to play big opponents.
“I am looking forward to seeing the guys who come in. They have been working hard in training.
“You have to get the opportunity and some of these guys will have the opportunity — so go and make a name for yourself. That’s the message.
“We give them as much work and training as they need so when the door opens they are ready.
“It would be nice to have a strong squad and keep everyone together with all the players fit, but this is the nature of it.
“We will have 4,000 supporters here, which is absolutely amazing, and we want to give them something to cheer.”
Celtic have never won a competitive match on German soil and today will be their twelfth attempt at trying.
“I’ve always said records are there to be broken,” Brendan said at the pre match press conference in Leipzig.
“Okay, it’s a tough gig against a very good team and a real strong club that has developed with big investment in these last few years.
“You can see that in what they have done and how they work.
“But we come here to show our quality and we are finding nice form now.”
