BRENDAN RODGERS has fired back at accusations Celtic dismissed the quality of Kairat Almaty before last week’s first leg of the Champions League play-off at Parkhead.
The Hoops were held to a scoreless stalemate in a disappointing and frustrating evening under the lights in the east end of Glasgow.
That prompted rival boss Rafael Urazbakhtin to say the hosts had underestimated his team before the opening game with £40million up for grabs for the victors.
An incensed Rodgers replied: “We always respect every opponent. We know they’re going to be a good side and hard to beat. We didn’t quite play to our level, especially in the first-half.
“But I think the advantage of two legs is that you get the chance to play against the opponent.
“We know they are really hard to beat, hard to break down and it’s really up to us to impose our game and I think having the first leg really helps us because we know the players we’re up against and we look forward to that challenge.
“But certainly, no, we never disrespect or underestimate any team.”
The Irishman also has a massive decision to make over striker Adam Idah who missed the 3-0 win over Livingston at the weekend through injury and who has yet to score this season.
The toiling frontman travelled with the squad to Kazakhstan for tomorrow night’s return and it’s now down to the gaffer if the £9.5million powerhouse attack-leader is in from the start or is on the substitutes’ bench,
Rodgers, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “It’s just about making sure fitness-wise that he’s okay.
“But I think availability is what you want as a coach and a manager and that gives you options within the game whether it’s to start or change from within.”
Shin Yamada, the £1.3million summer recruit from Kawasaki Frontale, looked lively against David Martindale’s side despite not getting on the scoresheet and substitute Johnny Kenny thumped in the third to claim his first competitive goal at Parkhead.
Rodgers added: “I was really pleased with the guys at the weekend who had come in and played.
“Some of them hadn’t played for a little while. I think some of the connections weren’t quite there, but that’s natural.
“We had players coming in for their first game and were new to the system. But in the main, I thought the level of performance was good.
“It gives us great options going into the game tomorrow night.”
