Why Celtic boss Rodgers feels he's ready for Europe

Can you give us just some of your feelings heading into another Champions League campaign?

Yeah, clearly we're very excited and looking forward to it. It’s a special competition that this club has got a great and rich history. And so yeah, we're excited by it.

This it's a new format, there's an element of the unknown compared to what we've seen previously. How do you feel about that now that the games are upon us?

I think everyone probably did feel that. Especially going into the draw and the expectation of what it was going to be like. I think that everyone would agree it was good. So, I'm hoping that the actual competition itself will be similar. I think it's fantastic over the different types of teams and games that we have. The club are going to some of these teams for the first time and the supporters are getting a chance to travel to some great cities. But from a football perspective, it's a great opportunity for us to test our qualities against some of the best teams, and that's always the big challenge for a coach and a manager.

You’re big favourites, perhaps more akin to a Scottish Premiership fixture or a Europa League fixture. Does that change anything in your mindset?

Not really. I think it's normal. We come into every game and respect every single opponent that we play. There will be a narrative around this game which I totally get, but then I look at Bratislava and I only have to look at my own experiences here. They’ve played four ties, and eight games to actually get to this stage. And so, the amount of work and fight and spirit they’ve had to reach this level… you can never, ever underestimate that. For some, it might not be fashionable. You know, there might be other teams with bigger histories and bigger clubs, but for us, we know that the team we have to really respect. But we’re also playing at home. We're in a really good mood, playing, well, intense, being consistent, and we just want to take that and bring that energy to the stands and hopefully, we get a really good night. But we know we have to really work hard.

Some high-profile players have spoken today, Rodri amongst them about the format, more games and the burden that that puts on players. I wonder how you feel about that from a manager's perspective. Is that an understandable concern?

Yeah, I think it's something I’ve mentioned before. Our season is a 12-month season nowadays. Season really. You know, it used to be that you had a summer break. You’ve got all of those games plus the international games. I understand where it's coming from. I don’t think Rodri in this instance is moaning about the games, it's about the quality. The first thing that goes is technical ability, when you're fatigued you’re not giving the best product to the supporter. Every football player loves to play. They love to train. But they want to produce quality and be able to be at their best as often as they can be. It's a natural concern. I totally get it.

In terms of this Champions League campaign, what was the biggest thing you think you learned about your squad and yourself last season that you can bring into this newly formatted campaign?

If you look at the nuts and bolts of what people will say, you only got four points, and then they'll cry about that. For me, I thought last year was about decisive moments - probably apart from the game away in Madrid, where we lost the man early on in the game and we got punished by the team that got to the quarter-finals. I think in the other games, I thought we showed up well and we could have won the Lazio game - should never have lost it - so that's a learning. Feyenoord, we were good. At home, we were good, we won the game. Away, we were right in the game. We had the best opportunities early on. Then we concede just before halftime, and then we obviously lose two men again. So that was it. That was the challenge. I think there was a lot of learning in it. But for me, looking at it and thinking if we could strengthen the squad, then we could take another step and be closer. We've been able to do that. We've seen that through the preseason. We used the games against Man City and Chelsea as Champions League preparation games, and how we set the team up and how we tried to play and work. I think we arrived into [the Champions League] hopefully having learned from last season and knowing that, at this level, it’s not just the work, it’s the really small details that make the difference, and because every team comes here and thinks they're a big team. When you're a champion of your own country, whatever that country is, then you believe that you're a really good team and that's why you play the Champions League. So most teams come with confidence and the confidence to play, and that's what you always have to respect. But for us, it's still about us. And how we play our work, and I think that hopefully, they can show that over this year’s games.

You mentioned quality. You brought many teams into this Champions League campaign as Celtic manager - in terms of this group of players that you have now, how does this compare to previous squads that you've had, in terms of quality, readiness for the competition, and potential to go further?

There's absolutely no doubt, that this is the most ready I’ve felt as a Celtic manager coming into the Champions League campaign - naturally because of the qualification phase and the doubt around all of that, and I didn't get players in late on off the back of that last season. Coming in last year and trying to find out the players and managing them through that. And then seeing them in the competition. But having had a year under my belt back here, seeing all the players, and being able to improve a lot of the areas that I want has been great. There are still areas that we want to improve in, but certainly, readiness is a great word. I think that feeling of arriving at this first game in what has probably been the best place that I've been in since I've been here.

You mentioned that narrative of Celtic being the favourites going into this game. Whether you agree with that or not, do you think there’s more pressure on you going in with the narrative of this being the best chance to get three points?

Not really, no. I think outside of the club, maybe, but certainly not within the football [department]. We cope with pressure every week. That's what being a Celtic player and a Celtic manager is. There's no change in that aspect. And then the key thing over the course of my job is to regulate that pressure for the squad and allow them to go and express themselves and play. That's what we've been doing. We thought about what we wanted to achieve in the summer. We now go into this first game. We're playing at home. We want to start with a really good performance and get three points, and we'll be bringing that energy to the game and the intensity to hopefully make that happen. But the pressures are part of the job here.

Am I right in thinking this is where you want to be judged? This elite European level in terms of the next stage of your evolution - you personally, but the squad as well?

You can judge me however you want to judge me. I've managed big games before and, believe it or not, I've won big games. But for us as a football club, yeah, we want to make that progress from participating to being competitive. Whether it’s domestic or European level, you're always judged. You're getting judged every day you train. Every time you train, every time you play for Celtic, there’s a test of your character and mentality. This is a competition that, clearly, we want to do well in. We want to grow in it, and I feel we're in a really good place to do that.

Do you feel that about the club as a whole? Your recent financial statement looks pretty healthy, and it looks like you got the backing that you were looking for in terms of the calibre player and the level player that you wanted.

Yeah, the club were great. They were absolutely brilliant. Throughout the preseason, we had to push. It's not just about a single player, I've always said that. There are lots of players that we can bring here, but what's important is to bring the right player that's going to improve this squad. You've seen the early season in form, without the players that we brought in terms of the rhythm of the team and the quality of the team – it’s been good. The level of performance has been consistent and aggressive and that’s everything that I'd want. But I always want more, and I want to bring that into a European stage. For that, you need that calibre of player. The club have backed me, and going forward, we want to add a few more. We’re in a really good place, I come into the stadium, I look around and it's really exciting. The work that has gone on behind the scenes here, and making this amazing place to come and walk around and play football in and support. On and off the pitch, we're in a really good place.

On that backing and the fees spent on some of the players this summer, do you feel that now comes with added expectation going into this European stage?

No. Not one bit, no. I don't set the fees. The player doesn't set the fee. It's what the clubs or sometimes the situation means that we have to pay. We've spent money, but we've brought a lot of money in. We brought more in. So, there's no pressure. The only pressure is the football pressure - the football pressure for us to want to do well and perform well.

I think the expectation as well with this new format is that eight or nine points should be good enough to see the club go into the top 24, and into the knockout stage. How big would it feel to kick off with three points and have seven games remaining after that?

Yeah, that would be great. That’d be a great first step for us. As I said, they're eight brilliant games, intense games, and great competition. We, of course, would want to do that. And also having back-to-back Champions League victories would be good. We had our last game here against Feyenoord when we won, and then to open up and win the game would be great. It would be a really good feeling and put everyone in a good mood, and then we could carry that through into the other games.

Under the old format, there was maybe a target of finishing third to secure European football after Christmas. Is it an equivalent in this format?

I think our intention first is to reach the playoff. I think if you look at the teams that go through then, over the course of the eight games, I think you're really looking to reach that playoff phase. That would certainly be the objective that I would set first and foremost. And then from there, you can.

I just wanted to ask about the interesting dilemma selection you have in midfield.

It’s brilliant. It's absolutely what I would want because I know that I can't use three players the whole season. It's not about just one player in the midfield, it’s about the three. But it's also about having the numbers there that when you take one off where you have to recover when you can put one on, and it doesn't change. If you look at the level that Paulo Bernardo's been at since he came back, he’s now really settled back in, he now feels like he's a Celtic player. He came back to us late, he’s trained ever so well, he comes on in some games, and came into the Rangers game and was outstanding. But that's how it’ll work over the course of the season. There's not a starting 11. It's really important for us, how we play and the energy we play with, our subs are absolutely vital for us. That's what can give us an advantage. But there's a cost to how we play with the intensity in the work and everything, so that means our bench has to be strong and that's the readiness that we talk about that makes us feel like we’re in a really good place. The three that are starting, and the players know this from my perspective, everyone wants to start a game, of course, they do, but over the course of the season, a lot of them will do that at various times. Sometimes they’ll be on the bench to come into the game. It will just depend on the game that we play.

Apologies if I’ve got my statistics wrong, but I think it’s 10 years to the day that you had your first taste of the group stages with Liverpool. Can you give us a taste of the man then, what you’ve learned since, what you’ve taken on board, and how it’s changed?

It does not get any easier that's for sure. It is an elite competition. I didn't have too many experiences with Liverpool in the Champions League. Most of my Champions League history has been with Celtic. I think from a managing perspective I have clearly developed and learned a lot. I was 40 years of age then and I am 51 now. I have a lot more games under my belt and much more experience. I have played against a lot of the big teams in big competitions around the world. It is a level that is really challenging. For teams like ourselves, we have to be at our absolute maximum to benefit especially the way the game has grown on the financial side over the last few years. What I always believe in here is if we can get our squad to a really competitive level then what we can do here at home can make it a very special place to be. We can be really competitive at this level and that is what I have always wanted us to be. On a lot of occasions through no fault of the players during my first time here gave me everything but we weren't just at that level and that was the reality of it. The players were good players but our depth just wasn't quite there. We are progressing now as a club and we are looking forward, when you saw how the club was supported in the summer it was fantastic. We want to be able to do that again in some other areas because we want to keep growing. We don't want the benchmark to be domestic football. We want to keep growing and do well in Europe. It is an amazing level to be involved in. I love the challenge, I relish the challenge and so do the players and we love playing in it. That's why you work all year. To win your league, to win the title and to get to experience nights like this.

As a coach do you still teach players that they will get challenged at this kind of level? Do you see things that you can learn from and take into your management and coaching going forward?

You see how top players have that belief. I have always said the Champions League are belief games. These are the games where I have been fortunate enough in my career to work with world-class and top-level players in the European game and one of the attributes and belief mechanisms they have is that they believe they should be there. This is what we are trying to develop here. We want them to consistently believe that participation is not enough. We want them to go and compete. You can do that. To want more, you have to give more. That's what we aim to do. There is always learning and it doesn't matter if it is Slovan Bratislava, Borussia Dortmund or St Johnstone, I will always learn as I am curious enough to respect all players and managers that I come up against. I will analyse and assess what I can do better.

The club have published positive financial results this week. How much would doing well in the Champions League and progressing in this competition help you strengthen further moving forward and get the players and the team to where you want it to be?

We have a model here that we all understand and we can push that boat out at times to help us improve. The club have done that and it is absolutely brilliant. I think this is great for the club and we all want to invest in the team. The board do, I do, and the players love the challenge of competition in the squad. I think competing and participating at this level as well as domestically always improves that opportunity to improve the squad.

You spoke about discipline because in last year's campaign away to Feyenoord there were two red cards and there was an early red card against Atletico Madrid. Luis Palma also picked up two bookings and was suspended for the Lazio game. Is it important that the discipline is better?

When you put it like that, yes. There is a change in officiating when you get to this level as well and every player will tell you that. The domestic/British game compared to Europe is different. Some of the sendings-off especially Daizen's were things where players needed to learn to be cute enough at this level. Discipline in anything is important. I don't think anything was reckless in the sendings-off last season. It was more down to a lack of experience and being unlucky. It is a really good point and something we have to be mindful of.

Last season before we played at Atletico Madrid at home I asked you if Celtic would have more of the ball and if it would change the approach. You said Celtic would have more of the ball which was the case. In that case, do you think Celtic will have more of the ball against Slovan Bratislava and will that affect how you set up?

I will tell you to watch the game and you will find out. I think at this level for us, we clearly dominate a lot of our domestic games. That's the plan. We are going into our European games with the same plan but you always need to have a balance. You know you are going to come up against a certain level of team where sometimes you will be pushed back as much as you want the ball and demand it. Sometimes that quality will drive you back but you can be comfortable in that balance and that is something that we talked about and agreed upon during pre-season. In those games against Chelsea and Manchester City, we saw all the attacking threats and we saw how well we could play. You also saw how well we could defend at times and that's okay. That's elite-level football. I am looking forward to seeing that balance between the pressing and the aggression and winning the ball and then when you get pushed back in the game being able to, as comfortable as can be, sit and defend well and show another side to your game which is important.

Celtic are usually set up with a high press with Kyogo and one of the wingers. Against Rangers, it was Kyogo and Hatate who moved forward and the two wingers dropped to kind of make a four in the middle. Can we expect to see something similar against Bratislava? Or does that just depend on the opposition?

100 per cent it is the opposition. We will sometimes press with a nine and a high 10. Sometimes it is Reo Hatate or Paulo Bernardo or someone who is up there. It depends on how the opposition plays it out from the back. We are always assessing that and it is something I work on with the coaches as we are very detailed in how we want to attack the game. We want to do things that get people excited and what gets me excited is the pressing in the game. For that, you have to have that set-up that allows you to press and press well. It can change from game to game.

There seems to be a palpable shift in supporters' expectations after the fantastic start to the league campaign and the fact that there are so many winnable games in this league phase. How much are you and the players relishing the fact that there is an opportunity to get all three points something Celtic haven't done in their opening Champions League match?

I am so looking forward to it. All the signs are up and it makes it so exciting. This is a brilliant opportunity for us and we know that over the course of the eight-game campaign, the home games will be absolutely vital for us. Bringing that energy from the pitch to encourage our support which we know is unrivalled and we know we have to excite the supporters with what we do on the field. That opportunity makes us look forward to the game.

How have you prepared tactically for this game? Have you worked on Bratislava for a number of weeks or did you only start your preparation post-Hearts?

No, we started our preparation before Hearts. The analysis of Bratislava was started by the coaches and myself as we took the opportunity to liaise with the coaches who have looked at Bratislava a number of times. They were in a playoff situation with FC Midtjylland and we knew then we were going to be playing them. We have gone into great detail in terms of assessing them. In reality, they are a team that plays 4-2-3-1. It is not rocket science and it is one where we understand the system that they play as we play against it some weeks at home. All of these things are fine but it is important not to complicate it for the players either. It is really not complicated and you don't have to do anything special. It is an amazing competition but it is still football. Of course, there are players at this level that can hurt you. We want to be able to play our way and be prepared to play how we want to and give the stress onto the other team. That is always part of the analysis and we make sure everything is covered. We then give the players the confidence to arrive into this game and be right on it from the first whistle to get the three points.

What traits does Arne Engels bring that are different to Matt O'Riley? Does it change the dynamic that he is right-footed and Matt is a left-footer?

No, not really. Why did we bring Arne Engels in? When I first spoke I said I wanted to bring in a team of power, strength, speed, creativity and unpredictability, especially when it comes to European football as these are traits that you need. That's what we were recruiting for and that is why Arne came in. He was playing with Augsburg who are not one of the top teams in the Bundesliga. To play in that league you need to have a level of athleticism and running power and he has all of that. You then look at him and ask if he is technically good enough to come in and play the way we play. Yes, he does. Tactically, I have worked with a lot of Belgian players and they are tactically very astute. They love the game and they love talking about the game. Some of the best players in the world, I have spoken to about football over a tactics board. His athleticism is there, he has good technique and tactically he is good and has bits to learn. Mentally you don't play that many games in the Bundesliga as a young player if you do not have that mental strength. Matt O Riley leaving created an opportunity and that is what Celtic is all about. Players will leave this club if they develop the way we know they can. They will go on to earn the riches we know are available to them. They will go beyond us and I can accept that fact greater now than I did the first time when I was here. The key thing is the next one and to make sure that everything is in place to get the next one. That's where Arne, Paulo and Luke McCowan come in. We have a strong midfield and it has always been a key part of my teams. The midfield three - that is the engine room and we have good flexibility there and they have different qualities that can really help us.

Have you been working on handling transitions with the team with the Champions League in mind?

If you go back to my first time here and the way my teams play then that has always been an important element. My teams have always been at their best in both offensive and defensive transitions. They have been key traits in the teams that I have managed, worked with and developed. We are becoming a really difficult team to play against and that is where I want us to be.