A defiant Brendan Rodgers believes Celtic’s detractors are eager to "beat them over the head with a stick" due to their struggles against top European teams. Celtic’s 7-1 defeat by Borussia Dortmund in early October marked the latest in a series of harrowing encounters with elite opposition. Rodgers feels that Celtic’s performances against richer, superior Champions League clubs are not given the proper context. The subplot is that Celtic dominate domestically, but their manager insists the coverage of their European failures has been unfair. Rodgers and his team were widely praised for their dismantling of Slovan Bratislava at the start of this European campaign.
Asked if the expectations placed on Celtic in the Champions League are disproportionate, Rodgers said: "I think if you use common sense and logic, you would see that. But it doesn’t count. You don’t get any leeway. That’s the reality. It’s an opportunity for people to beat you over the head with a stick, and that’s clear." He added, "I’m not going to get too emotional about it. I don’t listen too much. It’s a perfect storm for some people. You know that when you lose, especially in Europe, they will write a great piece… actually, they’ve been saving it for probably a number of months. So that’s the opportunity to do it."
Rodgers readily admitted the Dortmund match "felt like an assault" on Celtic’s spirit. The challenges don’t get any easier. Celtic are in northern Italy for a clash with Atalanta, the free-scoring Europa League winners. Rodgers continues to resist calls to change his typically attacking tactical approach. "I started coaching over 25 years ago and from the very beginning, my coaching has always been aggressive," he said. "Until the day I finish, it will be aggressive. That’s how I work."
Rodgers added: "You have to be really strong defensively. There are going to be moments when you can press the game high. There are going to be moments when you’re lower on the pitch. And I think the key learning for us has to be that when you are in those moments, you cannot go on your own. We’ve got a very, very inexperienced squad of players playing at this level." Celtic will again be without Cameron Carter-Vickers, their first-choice centre-half, in Bergamo. The left-back Greg Taylor also did not travel to Lombardy due to injury.
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