Manager looks ahead to latest Europa League challenge

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Celtic F.C.

·22. Oktober 2025

Manager looks ahead to latest Europa League challenge

Celtic return to European football tomorrow night when they play host to Sturm Graz on matchday three in the league phase of the UEFA Europa League.

Brendan Rodgers’ side are looking to get back to winning ways in the competition after a disappointing home defeat against SC Braga in their most recent Europa League tie.

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They face a Sturm Graz side who are currently top of the Austrian Bundesliga, and who defeated Rangers in their last European tie.

And the Hoops will have to do so without Daizen Maeda who is still ruled out through injury, although the Celtic manager is hoping that Alistair Johnston will be able to play a part in the action on Thursday night.

Speaking ahead of the game against Sturm Graz, Brendan Rodgers said: “We’ve had two home games on the spin in this competition and we wanted to take the points in those.

“We haven’t done that, but we now come up against a really good team tomorrow night. It’s another big challenge for us and we’re going to be ready for that.

“We would always feel, no matter which team we’re playing, whether that’s Sturm Graz or Bayern Munich, we would always feel that here at Celtic Park, with the connection on and off the pitch, that we have a very big chance of winning, whatever competition that’s in.

“I’m looking forward to the game tomorrow. We’ve studied Sturm Graz and we know they’re a very good side and score lots of goals, are very direct and have good speed, and change their system slightly in terms of playing in Europe compared to what they play at home domestically.

“Jurgen’s done a really good job with the team. They’ll come here and want to do well, but, of course, so do we. We’re at home and we want to get our first win in the competition, and hope it can provide the lift-off for our season.”

There is also a clear determination to return to winning ways following the weekend defeat against Dundee at Dens Park, with six tough games looming on the horizon before the next international break in November.

And that run of games begins tomorrow night, with the Austrian league leaders in their sights.

“There’s no doubt that both teams have quality players, and you hope that you’re quality will come through,” the Celtic manager said.

"But you always know it’s going to be a challenge against a good team. But, for us, our determination is very much there to hopefully get the win.

“Every game is to win. When we go out, we want to win every single game and we’ll do our very best to do that. It’s one of the things that I’ve always said coming in here, that you want to be a team that’s very hard to play against.

“It’s a must-win game tomorrow night in whatever way you want to look at it – for us to compete in the Europa League, we want to get up and running, we want to get a performance level that can inspire that confidence and to give a better feeling to supporters off the pitch. That’s what we want to do.”