Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers demonstrated his tactical expertise on Wednesday night as his team secured a crucial Champions League point against Atalanta in Bergamo.
After suffering a heavy defeat to Dortmund on matchday two, Celtic put on a strong defensive display, earning a valuable result in the group stage. With four points from their first three Champions League matches, the hard-fought draw against Atalanta represented a significant moment for many fans.
For years, Celtic has struggled to achieve results against top-tier teams, but with Rodgers seemingly hitting on a successful approach, there’s now real optimism that the team can progress further in Europe’s top competition this season.
Reflecting the positive atmosphere following the result in Italy, Callum McGregor spoke about why Rodgers’s reputation as a top-tier coach is well deserved.
**Callum McGregor Praises ‘Top Level’ Brendan Rodgers**
In an interview with *The Daily Mail*, Celtic captain Callum McGregor highlighted why he considers Rodgers a high-caliber coach and believes that any doubts about his leadership are misplaced.
He said: “He’s top, top level and I’ve seen that for many years now. He’ll definitely feel good after that, just like the players. Anyone questioning the manager should look at his achievements in football and what he’s done for our club.
“He completely transformed the club during his first stint, and now he’s returned to build on the exciting team that Ange (Postecoglou) left behind.
“For me, there’s no doubt that he’s a top manager. In the Dortmund match, the game plan was similar, but we, as players, lost our way. We’ve taken responsibility for that, and we’ve talked about it. It’s not always on the manager—sometimes the players are accountable too.
“But the way we carried out the game plan against Atalanta, especially against their man-to-man setup, deserves credit. Rodgers devised the strategy, and the players executed it. There’s a real sense of unity, and I’m sure he’d say the same.”
**Celtic’s Tactical Shift Against Atalanta**
Rodgers took a more cautious approach against Atalanta, addressing the issues that surfaced during the defeat to Dortmund. Beyond securing a strong result, Celtic established a game plan for future matches against high-level opposition, focusing on limiting their opportunities.
Despite their defensive focus, Celtic posed a threat at times, coming close on a few occasions, including Alex Valle’s long-range effort. Moving forward, the goal will be to blend this solid defensive approach with more attacking intent, aiming for a balanced strategy that combines defensive resilience with offensive potential in Europe.
GET MORE CONTENT HERE
Leave a Reply