A DEFIANT Brendan Rodgers warned anyone of writing off Celtic before Tuesday’s second leg of the Champions League play-off against Kairat Almaty in Kazakhstan.
The Hoops failed to capitalise on home advantage during the week and fly out today with it all to do as they attempt to gatecrash the £40million later stages of European football’s elite competition.
Rodgers has no doubt the club can take their place in Thursday’s draw and, after watching the 3-0 win over Livingston at Parkhead, said: “We’ll go and make sure that our preparation is right over the next 48 hours.
“We’re going there to win the game. The objective is to qualify.
“We’re still well in the game and we’re still well capable of going out there and winning, so that’s the plan.”
KAZAKHSTAN, HERE WE COME…Brendan Rodgers remains defiant and confident as he speaks to Celtic TV after the 3-0 win over Livingston.
Rodgers expressed his delight with the team’s performance against David Martindale’s stubborn Livi outfit to achieve a third successive victory to go to the top of the Premiership thanks to goals for £1.7million Swede Benjamin Nygren and another from Johnny Kenny.
The Irishman, speaking to Celtic TV, continued: “I was very pleased. I thought the performance was really good. We started well and with the tempo that we wanted.
“There were a lot of changes, but the fluidity in the team was very good and we got in to some good areas in the first-half.
“In the second-half, we had a good flow in the game and scored three very good goals.”
A beaming Rodgers added: “I really value the players who are here, they’re working so well.
“Defensively, we’re strong, we’ve conceded only one goal in four domestic games.
“And on this occasion, against a team that are very compact and tight, we showed some really good moments of football.”
Rodgers didn’t take any risks with Kieran Tierney, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Reo Hatate who remained on the bench yesterday although there were second-half appearances for skipper Callum McGregor, Daizen Maeda and James Forrest who came on just before the hour mark.
NYGREN STRIKES – AT THE DOUBLE
