BRENDAN RODGERS is convinced his Celtic players are finally ready to bury their Champions League away hoodoo tomorrow – and take a huge step towards a last 16 play-off.
Not since 2017 have the Hoops triumphed on their travels in this competition when during Rodgers’ first hot-seat spell they took care of Anderlecht in Brussels.
Now a confident squad – everyone’s available – has travelled to Croatia’s capital intent on delivering a statement result to shatter hosts Dinamo Zagreb.
It’s a massive week with the Premier Sports Cup final against Rangers also on Sunday.
But for now all of Rodgers’ focus is on making it a night to remember in the Balkans – and a win that would take the Celts to 11 points, rated enough to get a play-off from the new league phase format.
Of the game at the far from impressive Maksimir Stadium he said: “They have all felt very big in this competition.
“We always respect every opponent that we play. We arrive here with confidence, but we know we have to get our work in and put the work in.
“We’ve already shown in this competition, that we can compete and be really competitive in all aspects, whether it’s technical, tactical or the physical side of the game.
“So, that’s what we’re looking forward to, that challenge.
“You know that an away win at any level, but in particular in the Champions League, it’s a difficult challenge – but it’s one that gives a real good feeling.
“For us, it’s the next step.”
Asked if he felt the team was at the level to repeat what the 2017 squad managed, Rodgers responded: “I don’t think there’s any doubt.
“I think walking with this group now and this team over the last 15, 16 months, whatever it is, I feel that we’re in a really, really good place.
“I know we can arrive into these games now having made some big performances that we feel can get us big results at the level.
“Having won in Anderlecht, that was a great night for the team and the support.
“We would like to give ourselves the best opportunity we can and to do that is to look to win our next game – and it’s away from home.
“So, we want to take that chance to do that.
“I think that at this level you need big performances.
“I think that is what gains you the confidence and like I said, I take it back to last year and I saw enough there to feel that we could improve.
“We have improved but we have improved as a collective because a club like ourselves at this level, it really is about the team.
“We’ve had some big performances in this campaign which gives us that confidence.”
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