Lift-off or failure to launch? Champions League mission offers Brendan Rodgers chance to eclipse previous Celtic record
FOR some, Brendan Rodgers’ return to Celtic was something of a damp squib. After a failure to launch in August following defeat to Kilmarnock in the Viaplay Cup and a 0-0 stalemate against St Johnstone on Premiership duty, Celtic finally capitalised on Rangers’ early league defeat at the scene of Celtic’s League Cup calamity when they defeated their city rivals 1-0 in the season’s first derby at Ibrox last weekend.
The only way for Rodgers to eclipse his near-perfect first Celtic stint is to improve on his mixed European record. Yes, there were highlights during his first spell, notably creditable Champions League draws against Premier League powerhouse Manchester City home and away in his first season in charge in 2016, as well as a superb 3-0 victory away to Anderlecht the following year.
Rodgers must mend this broken record during his second spell in charge. The severity of defeats to the likes of Barcelona and PSG were, arguably, avoidable at the time – with an apparent stubbornness to stick to his tried and trusted high press and attacking philosophy leaving Celtic open to ruthless, diamond-encrusted forward lines boasting the talents of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar and Edinson Cavani.
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