The two Celtic defensive standouts according to Rodgers

How close was that to the perfect template for a Celtic game in Europe?

You certainly need it against a team of this level. The concentration in the game was superb, and you need to have it. The talent that they have, you're talking about the highest goalscorers in Italian football. So to come here, play with that concentration, that commitment, and still carry a threat, and the danger when we had the ball, was very, very pleasing. The players showed great courage, and concentrated on what it was they had to do, [which was to] defend the box well, shift, slide. It was a really, really good point for us.

What does that result say about the mentality of the team?

I mentioned before that sometimes games like that [Dortmund] are great games to learn from. If you look at Dortmund last night, they conceded five goals in the second half. It's just the level. I'd reiterated it to them after the game, of course, that we didn’t want to feel like that again, but I felt there were things that were outwith their control in that game.  We're talking 80 per cent of a game you can't control as a coach and a manager, as a player, but there's 20 per cent that you can. Referees, decisions, luck, it goes against you. And in that game in Dortmund, we had two penalties against us and a couple of deflected goals. So all of a sudden, you are four goals down and it's a challenge. But I never doubted the players and the mentality. We responded straight after that game and won our next game. And then we come away to a team that are so, so efficient going forward, with the quality they have, the power that they have. But for our players to concentrate, stand up and fight and have that dignity in the performance, I was so proud of them.

Were Auston Trusty and Alex Valle your two main heroes of the night?

You know you've got to defend and especially you've got to defend the box well. I thought the two centre-halves made some big, big headers. Scalesy has been doing that for a long time, he defends the box so well. And then, for a young player, Alex coming into this level, he just needs to tidy up with the ball, like the team does at times. I thought we played through their press really well at times, got into some really good positions and then we got a little bit excited and we gave it away. But that's just experience. That's taking steps at this level where you can then slow the game, change the rhythm of the game and retain the ball a wee bit better. But defensively, we were absolutely brilliant and concentrated. The two boys coming into the back line were outstanding. But as was the team, they defended very well. 

Was that Trusty's breakout game at Celtic?

I think that the guy's filling in and doing amazing, playing off his unnatural side. He's playing on that right side. Clearly, he's a left-sided defender, so it's a lot smoother [if he is on the other side]. But what he gives us is physicality, which is very important for us. He can win the race, so he won't get outdone for pace. And you see him tonight when balls come into the box, he made some big, big headers. He's learning at this level as well. He's new into these first Champions League performances. And certainly, he will grow from that also. 

How big a point was that overall in Celtic's UCL campaign?

If you look at our opening three games, to have four points I'm so, so happy with that. The first game, they were absolutely brilliant. They had everything, offensive, defensive. I think the Dortmund game speaks for itself. We learned from that. We’ve come away to a top team with big, big talents and keep a clean sheet to gain a point. So the four points after three games is equal to what we had last year. We have five games to go. Hopefully, we can look to our next game and look to gain more points to end up where we want in January. But it’s a really, really big confidence boost for the team tonight.

What can that sort of result do to the players?

It gives them the confidence that they can defend against a top team. I'm not sure if that was pragmatic enough for people tonight. I don't know. But we go out in every game to be structured and defend well. You know you’re going to get pushed back. But I think the confidence that it gives you when you can defend against the very best teams at that level, and that concentration, it'll give them a huge boost. 

Atalanta didn't look like scoring at the end - did you allow yourself to get comfortable?

I felt in the first half they got through a few more times than maybe they did in the second half. I felt as the game wore on that we were able to break through. We defended well and then broke through it, and came out of the press with just a wee bit more cleanliness in our pass and tidy up on our touch. We could have sustained it a little bit more. But you're never comfortable until the final whistle goes. Especially against a top team. Sometimes the luck that goes against a Scottish team, they get the corner every 20 seconds to go. Will they score? But we stood up and were counted tonight. We defended manfully.