Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has warned his team that they must avoid seeing red against Lazio.
Brendan Rodgers has cautioned his Celtic players that they must avoid seeing red against Lazio on Tuesday if they want to extend their European campaign until Christmas.
The Hoops have only taken one point from their four Champions League matches so far and need to win at the Stadio Olimpico and hope Atletico Madrid defeats Feyenoord to go into their final meeting against the Dutch club with a possibility of progressing to the Europa League knockout round.
Celtic’s cause has been hampered by the fact that three players have been sent off in their two away games: Gustaf Lagerbielke and Odin Thiago Holm in the 2-0 loss in Rotterdam, and Daizen Maeda in the first half of their 6-0 thumping in Madrid.
Rodgers is confident that such indiscipline would not be repeated in Rome.
“What matters is that we have 11 men on the field,” remarked the Hoops coach. “In our two away games, we’ve been reduced to nine and then ten men.”
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has warned his team that they must avoid seeing red against Lazio.
“At this level, that’s a tall order.” For us, it’s about keeping our players on the pitch, playing at the level we know we can and have demonstrated, and maybe getting our breaks in the game.
“I think we learned that over the course of the competition, against Lazio and the other teams, that we can really compete when we are 11 vs 11.”
Celtic haven’t won a Champions League away game since beating Anderlecht 3-0 more than six years ago, but Rodgers is confident his team can achieve the win they need in the Italian city.
“We have two games left, we know what we have to do,” he told reporters. “We’re going to give it our all to get the victories we need.”
“I’m excited about it, and I’m looking forward to seeing us play.” I believe we can achieve our objectives, but we must work extremely hard.”
Rodgers is looking forward to seeing his players take the field at the Stadio Olimpico to revenge their 2-1 defeat at the hands of Lazio at the start of October.
“You play football to play in the best stadiums, in the best atmospheres,” that’s what he stated. “The atmosphere was amazing the last time I was here, and I expect it to be the same this time.”
“It’s an iconic stadium.” You always expect the fans to rally around the home team. I usually say that the louder the opposition cheers, the faster we go, so hopefully we run really hard.”
Celtic will be without crucial wide players Luis Palma, Liel Abada, and Maeda, although James Forrest returns after missing Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Motherwell at home.
Defender Liam Scales believes the Scottish champions have a good chance of winning.
“If we win the two games we give ourselves a right chance so that’s what we’re looking to do,” that’s what he said. “We are confident that we can pull it off.” We’ve gotten close, we’ve gone toe-to-toe with teams, and we’ve always come out on the losing end.
“Away wins in Europe are hard to come by and if we can do that here it would be amazing for us as a group to kick on and believe that we can do it again in the last game.”
Scales, a former Shamrock Rovers defender who spent last season on loan at Aberdeen, is loving his Champions League experience.
“I’m taking it all in, taking as much of it in as I can because you don’t know how many of these experiences you’re going to have playing in these stadiums against this level of opposition,” the 25-year-old added.
“Before the games I try and take a second to take it all in and then I get into game mode.”
