Manager: We're excited to face another top European side

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Celtic F.C.

·4. November 2024

Manager: We're excited to face another top European side

After a stunning 6-0 victory over Aberdeen in the semi final of the Scottish League Cup on Saturday evening, Brendan Rodgers and his side are preparing for Champions League duty and the visit of RB Leipzig to Celtic Park tomorrow night (Tuesday, November 5).

The Hoops secured a point away from home against Atalanta in their last UCL outing thanks to a resilient and brave defensive performance in Italy, and they will be looking to go one better and take all three points when Leipzig arrive in the East End of Glasgow on Tuesday.

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Speaking to the media today (Monday) ahead of a massive European night at Paradise, Brendan Rodgers said that he expects a tough night for the Scottish champions, but is relishing the prospect of another big test.

“RB Leipzig, like Atalanta and Borussia Dortmund, are a top team right towards the top of their league,” he said. “They have everything you would want in a top European side.

“Speed, strength, power, technique. But it’s a brilliant challenge for us and we’re really looking forward to it.

‘On the back of a really good result in Atalanta, we’re at home and we’re really excited by that.’

“It’ll be a full house and we’ll look to bring our energy to the game.

“But we also know that we’ll have to defend for good periods of the game as well with the concentration and commitment that we showed in Atalanta.”

There are few arenas in European football that hold the same legendary status as Celtic Park on a European night, with tomorrow’s match providing another opportunity for a famous night under the lights.

Speaking about the importance of the role the Celtic support will play tomorrow, Brendan said: “We all know here that when you want the result, the supporters can bring you closer to that.

“I think that intensity will be needed, the noise and what it generates here is absolutely incredible.

“We’ll also need that little bit of patience as well. I’m sure the crowd will get right behind the players and hopefully can push us to a result”

This won’t be the first time that Brendan has faced RB Leipzig in European competition as the Hoops’ boss, with the memories of a 2-1 victory over the Bundesliga side in 2018 still fresh in his memory.

That meeting between the sides was in the UEFA Europa League group stages and, thanks to Kieran Tierney’s opener and Odsonne Edouard’s instant response to Leipzig’s equaliser, the Celts cane out on top in that encounter.

Reflecting on that night and looking ahead to tomorrow’s match, Brendan added: “To win a game at this level, you have to bring your A-game to it, and I thought that night we were excellent.

“The intensity of our game, the pressure we had in the game and of course you have to ride your luck at times as well, that’s the level.

“But I thought our intensity, pressing and football was very good on that evening and at this level, you have to be near on perfect to get a result.”