CELTIC have fired blanks on four occasions this season, two of them at Parkhead.
Brendan Rodgers is determined to rectify that worrying sequence when the Hoops host Sporting Braga in the Europa League under the lights in the east end of Glasgow this evening.
The Hoops gaffer watched in dismay and frustration as the team limped out of the Champions League after two dismal scoreless stalemates against Kairat Almaty that led to a 3-2 defeat on penalty-kicks in Kazakhstan.
They also didn’t lay a glove on Russell Martin’s strugglers at Ibrox in a turgid derby performance and they had to settle for 0-0 against Hibs in Glasgow at the weekend.
IN WITH A SHOUT…Brendan Rodgers in Belgrade.
Rodgers is demanding a massive improvement from his firing squad and said: “The ball speed was good, creativity was good. In terms of my baseline philosophy, it was there – the speed in the game was good, the creativity was there, the chances were there.
“We just need to find that ruthlessness and that just comes with new players coming into the system, into the structure and understanding how we work specifically to break down certain defences.”
Rodgers stressed the value of following up the 1-1 draw with Red Star in Belgrade in the first encounter with three points against Portuguese opposition.
The Irishman, speaking to Celtic TV, continued: “I do think it’s important, it can set the tone for the rest of the competition.
‘Of course, at home we want to be really, really strong and make it really difficult.’
“We were that last year in Europe and we want to be likewise this year.”
A BIG HAND…Brendan Rodgers acknowledges the Celtic fans.
Reflecting on the draw in the Serbian capital where Kelechi Iheanacho scored the club’s goal, Rodgers added: “There was the disappointment of not winning the game, because we felt that we could have.
“So, we’re not just happy to take the point in general. We played against a team that were doing very well and had seven straight victories in their domestic league which gives them confidence and they’ve got some very good players.
“But we went there and challenged that, and felt with the second-half performance we could have done even more in the game.
“But like we’ve been all season, we have a strong foundation defensively and if we bring that tonight and continue to work and look to get the goals to match some of the approach play, then that will give us even more confidence.”
*DON’T miss the unbeatable match report from Celtic v Sporting Braga this evening – only in your champion CQN.
