BRENDAN RODGERS insists Celtic will take full advantage of their Champions League first leg against AEK Athens at Parkhead on Wednesday.
The Hoops boss was satisfied with last night’s goalless draw against Rosenborg in Trondheim that gave them a 3-1 aggregate triumph and set up the third round meeting with the Greek champions.
Rodgers has watched his side blow away Astana and Hapoel Be’er-Sheva in the east end of Glasgow in the past two seasons and those pulverising performances provided the foundation to gatecrash the lucrative group stages.
The Irishman said: “They are all tough games, no matter which round. We have got through, the first leg is at home and that is going to be very important for us.
“We have been really aggressive at home in my time here.
“If you’re positive at home, you can get a scoreline that will get you through, you think of the Be’er-Sheva game, Astana, as well, and obviously the home leg in this tie got us through.”
Rodgers admitted he hasn’t had much time to study next week’s opposition, but is just delighted to avoid dropping into the Europa League.
He said: “I will watch Athens now. They are 11 human beings like us and it will be a difficult game for both sides.
“There are now another two rounds to go, but if that’s what it takes to get through, then that’s what we will do. It was either Athens or Cork and we are happy with Athens.”
