Celtic are gearing up for a crucial Champions League encounter against Atalanta, the reigning Europa League champions. After their impressive win over Slovan Bratislava at home, Celtic faced a setback with a heavy defeat against Borussia Dortmund in Germany. Now, as they prepare for the challenge in Bergamo, manager Brendan Rodgers emphasizes the importance of belief and learning from past mistakes.
Rodgers has spoken about the need for tactical discipline, unity, and confidence as Celtic aim to compete with Europe’s top clubs. Reflecting on the Dortmund defeat, he urged his players to use the experience as motivation, stressing that belief is crucial when facing high-caliber opponents. Despite the difficulties, he sees this as part of a long-term project to build Celtic’s stature in European football.
Rodgers stated: “As a football player you don’t want to be sat in the dressing room feeling that again, that’s something that the players know themselves.” He added that even when results don’t go as planned, maintaining belief is key: “This is a level about belief. These are belief games. You have to go into these and really believe you can get the result.”
However, Celtic will have to manage without key defensive players Cameron Carter-Vickers and Greg Taylor, both sidelined due to injuries. Alex Valle and Auston Trusty are expected to join Liam Scales and Alistair Johnston in the defense. Despite the challenge Atalanta presents, Rodgers is confident that his team’s spirit and togetherness, combined with tactical focus, can keep them in the fight for a positive outcome in Bergamo.
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