BRENDAN RODGERS insists it’s Celtic’s “duty” to beat Sporting Braga in their Europa League confrontation at Parkhead tomorrow night.
The Hoops paid a heavy penalty for not taking care of business in their home game against Kairat Almaty that led to their embarrassing Champions League exit in Kazakhstan.
Rodgers is hoping his side have learned from the chastening experience and manage to bodyswerve any banana skins against the Portuguese outfit in the 5.45pm kick-off under the lights in the east end of Glasgow.
The manager is looking for maximum points from the back-to-back home Euro encounters against Braga and then Sturm Graz later in the month.
GREEN FOR GO…Brendan Rodgers is hoping for three points against Sporting Braga. Image courtesy Celtic TV.
The champions got off to a solid start to the campaign with a well-merited point in the 1-1 draw with Red Star Belgrade in the Serbian capital with Kelechi Iheanacho chipping in with his second goal for the club.
The Portuguese team did even better with a 1-0 home victory over a strong Feyenoord line-up.
Rodgers said: “Braga have had their struggles in the league, but they had a good result against Feyenoord which got them three points in the first game.
“Like all Portuguese teams, they’ll be well organised, so we’ll see what they bring. They have gifted, talented players and games at this level are always going to be a good challenge.
“I’m really happy for us to be at home for our next two games. It’s a good opportunity for us to impose ourselves in the early stages of the competition.”
The Irishman, speaking to Celtic TV, added: “Every time we play, I want us to be creative and attacking and play
with a real speed and tempo in our game.
“We want to bring that to Celtic Park and the supporters will hopefully get behind that and enjoy it.
“I want us to put in a really good performance and get three points. Our duty is to win and that’s what we want to do.”
