BRENDAN RODGERS wasn’t entirely satisfied with his Celtic side in the 1-1 draw with Red Star Belgrade in their opening Europa League outing in the Serbian capital last night.
The champions, who play Sporting Braga at Parkhead a week today, took the lead through new Bhoy Kelechi Iheanacho 10 minutes after he had replaced the ineffective Daizen Maeda at the interval.
The UEFA deadline-day arrival finished a fine move started by the impressive Colby Donovan and carried on by the hard-working Benjamin Nygren.
The Swede slipped a killer pass in front of Iheanacho and he kept his composure before firing into the net from 12 yards.
SMILES IN SERBIA…goalscorer Kelechi Iheanacho celebrates with Benjamin Nygren after firing Celtic into the lead in Belgrade.
Unfortunately, the visitors could only keep the advantage for 10 minutes when some slack defending from a left-wing corner-kick allowed Marko Arnautovic to convert at the near post.
Iheanacho drew two more saves from Brazilian keeper Matheus with Celtic having to settle for a stalemate.
A terse-looking Rodgers admitted: “It’s a good start for us.
“Of course, you want to win every game, but to come here and take the point, and still be disappointed that we maybe didn’t go on and win the game, it’s something we can take and move into our next game.
“In the first-half, it was just too passive and then when we arrived through the pitch into the game, we just didn’t keep the ball long enough in the final third of the field.
“I put Kelechi into the game because he’s a good reference for the team. I know he can hold the ball and his touch, and that allowed us to come into the game.
“I felt we were much better in the second-half and looked like we could go on and win the game.”
Tunisian winger Sebastian Tounetki was lively in the opening period before shading after the turnaround and being replaced by another summer arrival Michel-Ange Balikwisha.
THE THINKER…Brendan Rodgers delivers his honest verdict on his team’s display against Red Star Belgrade. Image courtesy Celtic TV.
Rodgers also took time to praise teenage right-back Donovan who was making his European debut for the Hoops.
The gaffer, speaking to Celtic TV, continued: “I thought Colby was outstanding.
“I said afterwards to the players that for a young kid who’s just turned 19, coming to this stadium which is a real challenge and a real intimidating place, he played with personality and composure.
“He has a toughness to him where he’s not going to get beaten easily and I thought he was absolutely outstanding.”
Looking at the contribution from his former Leicester City striker, Rodgers added: “Kelechi’s a brilliant goalscorer.
“I knew that when bringing him in and I knew that how he looks after himself is really good.
“So, it’s just about getting him up to speed, and when he can do that, he can score goals, there’s absolutely no doubt.”
