BRENDAN RODGERS is convinced Anderlecht’s attempts to get their disgruntled fans onside could do Celtic a favour in the Champions League encounter in Brussels tonight.
The Belgians are in disarray following a slow start to the season and have sacked Swiss manager Rene Weiler with former striker Nicolas Frutos placed in interim charge.
Anderlecht came from behind to scramble a 2-1 win in the league against Waasland-Beveren at the weekend, but sit seventh in the table, nine points off the top, and they lost their Group B opener 3-0 away to Bayern Munich.
With the pressure on their players at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Hoops boss Rodgers said: “When you are playing at home then you will see that as an advantage for you, as we see when we play in front of 60,000 people.
“We love to play at home, but we are a team that enjoys playing away because the space can open up a little bit more.
“The home team sometimes have to come and try to show their supporters that they have the intent to win and, of course, that also works well for us.
“We can control the ball, be good in possession, but we are also a fast team who can counter-attack.”
Rodgers insisted neither he nor his team will underestimate the Belgian champions,
He added: “It is always sad when a manager loses his job, so there is clearly some problems there in relation to that.
“But I suppose Anderlecht will see this competition as an opportunity to try to turn that fortune around.
“And obviously you never know what happens with a change of manager, sometimes you have that bounce effect, it is a clean slate again.
“We have tried to do our best to analyse and study Anderlecht. They have lost a couple of games so far in the league which they will be disappointed with, but they will still pose a threat for us.”
The CQN Podcast: A Celtic State of Mind (EP14) Champions League Special
A Celtic State of Mind offers an insight into the culture of Celtic Football Club, the city of Glasgow, and fans of the reigning invincible Scottish champions.
Each episode includes interviews with ‘Celtic-minded’ figures from the world of sport, music, film, art, broadcasting, literature or politics.
Ahead of the crucial Champions League match against Anderlecht, ‘A Celtic State of Mind’ goes behind the Champions League curtain for Celtic’s opening match against PSG.
Kevin Graham provides pre and post-match discussion with members of his CSC, as well as in-match analysis in what will be a regular Celtic State of Mind feature.
Enjoy!
