Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has rubbished the “narrative” round Slovan Bratislava, insisting they’re anticipating a tricky Champions League opener.
Rodgers was in assured temper forward of the beginning of the revamped competitors, additionally insisting the Hoops deserved extra from final season’s marketing campaign which noticed them end backside of Group E with 4 factors.
Celtic host the Slovakian champions on Wednesday night time and are favourites in opposition to the lowest-ranked group within the competitors.
“We come into every game and respect every single opponent we play,” Rodgers mentioned.
“Clearly there can be a story round this sport, which I completely get, however I have a look at Bratislava and so they have had 4 ties and eight video games to really get to this stage.
“The quantity of labor and combating spirit they’ve needed to put in to achieve this degree you possibly can by no means underestimate that.
“For some it may not be trendy, there could be different groups with larger histories and larger golf equipment however we all know it is a group we actually must respect.
“We also know we’re playing at home. We’re in a really good mood, playing well, been consistent and we just want to bring that energy to the stands and hopefully we can have a really good night.
“Each group that comes right here thinks they seem to be a massive group. If you’re a champion of your nation, no matter that nation is, then you definitely consider you are a extremely good group and that is why you play within the Champions League.”
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Celtic have but to drop a degree or concede a aim within the Scottish Premiership this season
The highest eight sides within the league will qualify robotically for the knockout levels, whereas the groups ending in ninth to twenty fourth place will compete in a two-legged play-off to safe a spot within the final 16 of the competitors.
Rodgers believes Celtic are in a greater place than final season to impress in Europe.
“If you look at the nuts and bolts of it, people will say you only got four points and then they will cry about that, and the season before and the season before,” he added.
“I thought last year it was decisive moments, apart from the game away in Madrid where we lost a man early on and got punished by a team that got to the quarter-final.
“I feel the opposite video games we confirmed up effectively in.
Celtic’s report signing Arne Engels is about to characteristic in opposition to Slovan Bratislava
“We could have won the Lazio game, should never have lost it, so that’s a learning.
“Feyenoord at residence we had been good, we received the sport. Away to Feyenoord we had been good and proper in it, then we concede and misplaced two males and that was a problem.
“I thought if we could strengthen the squad we can take another step closer, and we’ve been able to do that.
“We have seen that by pre-season. We used the video games in opposition to Man Metropolis and Chelsea as Champions League preparation video games in how we tried to play and work.
“We arrive into it hopefully having learned from last season and know that, at this level, it is about the really small details.
“It is a terrific alternative for us to check ourselves in opposition to the most effective groups and that is at all times the large problem from a training and managing perspective.”
How does the new ‘league phase’ format work?
The 36 groups type a single league, with every entrant enjoying eight totally different golf equipment, 4 at residence and 4 away. Three factors are awarded for a win and one for a draw.
The highest eight sides within the league will qualify robotically for the knockout levels, whereas the groups ending in ninth to twenty fourth place will compete in a two-legged play-off to safe a spot within the final 16 of the competitors.
The underside 12 groups can be eradicated with no entry to the Europa League.
