BRENDAN RODGERS is devising a masterplan to propel Celtic to their first Champions League group win at Parkhead in a decade.
The Hoops boss witnessed his team being reduced to nine men following red cards for Gustaf Lagerbielke and Odin Holm in the 2-0 loss to Feyenoord in Rotterdam in their opening encounter in Group E.
That was followed by the agonising stoppage-time loss to Lazio in Glasgow after a ‘goal’ from Luis Palma in the 81st minute had been ruled out in the tightest of margins.
Now La Liga aces Atletico Madrid will provide the barrier to that crucial initial triumph and Rodgers, as ever, has faith in his players to give it their best shot and hope fickle Dame Fortune, who has been snarling as opposed to smiling in the direction of the champions, takes the night off.
THUMB’S UP…Brendan Rodgers acknowledges the travelling support after the 4-1 win at Tynecastle.
Rodgers said: “We are playing a club that is one of the best in the world and one of the top teams.
“We want to be able to take on the best teams in the world. We don’t have to be the best, but we certainly want to take them on.
“The players will go into it with great confidence. It will be an amazing atmosphere and we will devise a plan.”
Rodgers, speaking to the Daily Record, added: “I think the players have been unfortunate that they haven’t picked up something in the first two games.
“The performance levels have been good against Feyenoord and Lazio and now we have a great chance to get our first points on the board.”
