Manager: This is another opportunity to show the power of Paradise

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Celtic F.C.

·26 November 2024

Manager: This is another opportunity to show the power of Paradise

Supporters will go into this Wednesday night’s UEFA Champions League against Club Brugge full of excitement and expectation, given the way this season’s campaign has gone so far.

Celtic have seven points after their first four games of the competition, the most recent being an impressive 3-1 victory over RB Leipzig, and will be looking to chalk up three more points to put the team in a strong position in the Champions League table.

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Brendan Rodgers and his squad are also looking forward to what they hope will be another special European night at Celtic Park, and the manager knows the team will have to replicate their performance from that win over Leipzig if they want to see off another tough opponent in Club Brugge.

Speaking ahead of the game, the Celtic manager said: “It’s the Champions League so every game is a very tough game and this will be another big examination for us.

'We’re at the halfway point and have seven out of 12, so we’re really pleased with that, but it’s not just that – it’s the performance level in the competition that gives us confidence.'

“Our objective is to get into the play-off phase, first and foremost, and we’ll have to see what points total that will take us, but for us it really is just focusing on this game and look to bring the performance level.”

Celtic kicked off this season’s campaign with an emphatic 5-1 victory over Slovan Bratislava, but then suffered a heavy 7-1 defeat away to Borussia Dortmund.

However, an impressive goal-less draw against Atalanta in Italy was followed by the victory over RB Leipzig.

The Hoops boss has been pleased with his team’s character and resilience, as well as their quality, and believes it’s an indication of the squad’s ongoing growth.

“The performance level last year, even though we didn’t quite get the results and the wins we would have wanted, certainly indicated to me that we were growing and developing,” he explained.

“Now, in three of the four games this season we’ve shown a high level of performance – different types of performances, but certainly the Leipzig game was a culmination of everything that we would want – the physicality, the pressing in the team and the aggression, but also the calmness in our defending.

“As much as you want to dominate, you’re just not going to be able to do it at this level.

"You’re going to have spells where the opposition who have real quality in their team and who will be very well coached, will make you suffer. And it’s having that ability to suffer.

“I think that was the great thing about the Leipzig game – we suffered, we went behind after making a really good start, so we had to weather a wee bit of a storm for 10 minutes, but then we grew back into the game again and then ran out very convincing winners.

“But you have to be ready for it, and that’s something we’re developing all the time.”

Club Brugge have taken six points from their four UEFA Champions League games, the most recent of which was a 1-0 home win over Aston Villa.

And the Celtic boss is anticipating another tough test for his team on Wednesday night.

“For us, it’s another opportunity to show the power of Celtic Park,” he said.

“I’ve got absolutely no doubt that every team and their supporters will feel that their football ground is special and special to play there, and I respect that, but I know this club and I know the fans and I know the stadium, so I know how special it is to play here and how difficult it can be.

'But what you then have to be able to do is match that with the performance, and that’s something which has really pleased me in these recent home games in the Champions League.'

“It’s not just a tick box for players to come here and clubs to come here and say they’ve played at Celtic Park.

“It’s to come and realise that you’re in for a game here, and that combination of the support base and the team making it a really difficult night.

“Club Brugge are what you would expect at this level – a dynamic team, creative, will run, will work hard, so they will be a difficult opponent for us.”