BRENDAN RODGERS is urging his Celtic players to enjoy another memorable European evening under the lights at Fortress Paradise tomorrow night.
Feyenoord were overcome 2-1 in the final game of the Champions League at Parkhead last season and the Hoops picked up where they had left off with a 5-1 triumph over Slovan Bratislava as the new-look tournament kicked off in the east end of Glasgow in September.
Rodgers’ men made it a hat-trick of success in front of their own joyous support when they came back to hammer Bundesliga aces RB Leipzig 3-1 on Fireworks Night.
Scotland’s title kings now face Club Brugge in matchday five of Europe’s most prestigious tournament and, after losing to Borussia Dortmund and drawing with Atalanta on their travels, Callum McGregor and Co are looking for another crucial triumph that will hoist them onto 10 points in their quest to reach the next stage.
Rodgers said: “For us, it’s another opportunity to show the power of Celtic Park. I’ve got absolutely no doubt that every team and their supporters will feel that their football ground is special and really special to be there, to play there and I respect that.
“But I know this club, I know the fans and I know the stadium, so I know how special it really is to play here and how difficult it can be.
“What you have to be able to do is match that with the performance and that’s something that has really pleased me in these recent home games in the Champions League.
“So, it’s not just a ticked box for players to come here and clubs to come and say they’ve played at Celtic Park, but it’s to come and realise you’re going to be in for a game and that combination of the support base and the team making it a really difficult night.”
Rodgers, speaking to Celtic TV, continued: “It’s probably more when you listen to other players. But also I listen to my own players. It’s the feeling that it brings here and we don’t take it for granted.
“It’s one that I hoped when I came back here, it was to connect it, which was to have that off the field, that fire and that passion and emotion.
“And bring that onto the field, as well, with performance level and a level of football that excites.
“So, that was the challenge and you can see when that is all connected, what it brings. Like the RB Leipzig game, the feeling that it gives, not just for that night, but the supporters the next day and for days after.
“The feeling of watching the team compete at European level and play at a level of football. So that’s what we want to bring and it definitely does.”
The Celtic gaffer added: “You spoke to some of the players afterwards, experienced players, the impact that the stadium brings.
“So we have to use that, we have to connect with that spirit and continue to make it really difficult.
“But we’re at home and this is where we want to show our power. We’ve shown that in the last number of games here in the Champions League.
“When we do that, it’s given them something to really, really worry about. So that’s our plan.”
