Brendan Rodgers' caution regarding Celtic's prospects in the Champions League is entirely justified. Thoroughbred racehorses excel at timing their runs. The fact that Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, Milan, Benfica, and Paris Saint-Germain began this week behind Celtic in the revamped version of European football's premier club competition is likely to be a fleeting situation. Despite a promising start, Celtic were ranked 15th before Tuesday's fixtures. The Scottish champions remain steadfast in their aim to reach the playoff round. Seven points from a possible 12 have not dampened the aspirations that existed before the season began.
Rodgers was understandably delighted with Celtic's dismantling of RB Leipzig in the previous round. The pre-match media focus for the subsequent Scottish Premiership stop at Kilmarnock was dominated by the events of a few days earlier. This was warranted; Celtic have endured public criticism for their European failures in recent years, making it fitting to celebrate their recent successes. The performance against the German club was outstanding and validated Rodgers' decision to return for a second tenure at Celtic in 2023.
A new Champions League week brings a fresh challenge. The Leipzig victory, coupled with a strong defensive display against Atalanta in Bergamo, has set high expectations for Rodgers and his team as Club Brugge visit. Celtic are aiming for their fourth consecutive home win in European competition. “It is another chance to showcase the power of Celtic Park,” Rodgers said. “I have no doubt that every team and their supporters feel their football ground is special, and I respect that. But I know this club, the fans, and the stadium, so I understand how special it is to play here and how challenging it can be.
“What you must do is match that with your performance, which has pleased me greatly in these recent home games in the Champions League. It's not just about ticking a box for players and clubs to say they've played at Celtic Park; it's about realizing you're in for a tough game here.” Rodgers is wise to remain calm about the level of opposition, especially since Brugge will have taken note of the Leipzig match. Brugge reached the Europa League semi-finals last season and defeated Aston Villa this month. Despite the focus on the unusual circumstances surrounding the only goal in Belgium, it's equally important to note that Villa couldn't score against Nicky Hayen's team. Brugge prepared for their trip to Glasgow with a 7-0 thrashing of Sint-Truidense. On paper, this appears to be a balanced fixture.
“I think the world might think: ‘OK, you play hard games against Atalanta and Leipzig, then everything else is fine,’” Rodgers said. “But it's the Champions League. Every game is very tough, and this is another significant test for us.” They are well-coached, know their roles, and have a fast and dynamic frontline. Simon Mignolet, the goalkeeper I had at Liverpool, is a very experienced and calm player. So, the mix of young, hungry players and those with experience at this level. Teams like Club Brugge may not be talked about as much as some of the other big names, but they are teams you cannot underestimate. They are very experienced at this level and have some fantastic players and a very good coach who has stepped up and works them very well.
Rodgers' perspective must be seen in the broader context of the 7-1 loss in Dortmund, which threatened to derail this European campaign. Instead, the recovery has been remarkable. “That failure is part of the journey,” Rodgers said. “I mentioned it at the time – and it probably seemed odd – but it can have a trampoline effect, bouncing you back even higher. It's about how you handle it, which is crucial. This team has shown and proven that, and I believe there's still much more to come.” Rodgers reported a fully fit squad after Saturday's 4-1 win over Hearts. If that domestic dominance has been almost expected, progress on a higher stage looks set to define this season.
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