Brendan Rodgers insists he's not fazed by the strong criticism he's received on the back of Celtic's UEFA Champions League thrashing on Tuesday.

The Scottish Premiership champions lost 7-1 against Borussia Dortmund, and if it wasn't for Kasper Schmeichel, the margin could've even been greater.

Celtic tried to emulate the way that works so successfully domestically but last seasons competition runner's-up were just far too superior in every position. 

That's since led to pundits and supporters questioning why the Northern Irishman doesn't tweak his style when facing opponents that are expected to be a significant challenge for his squad. 

"I don’t feel anything," Rodgers said about the noise around his approach to European ties. "I’m not really bothered, that’s my honest answer. You can’t turn a tap on and off.

(Image: PA Wire via DPA)

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"I think if you analyse the game, you’ll see that we were trying to press the game in the static position and fall back into shape. That wasn’t to the level that we wanted on the evening.

“We play how we play, it’s the same plaudits that are commending our performances over the last number of months that allow us to get into this game with this incredible optimism that we can get a result.

"You can’t just turn the tap back off and say to play super defensive. It’s just not how we play. So what do we do, sit back and have 15 per cent of the ball and lose 3-0? 4-0? We’ve seen teams over six months that come to us and sit back and play five at the back of 5-4-1 with no chance to attack.

"Or, do you play how you play, but know that the mistakes you’ve got to sharpen your teeth in and you’ve got to be brighter and make quicker movements to close space? All these things are part of the learning process.

"I’d much rather do that and go down with my own vision than listen to someone saying that who has never coached a game in their life or played, or whatever. I respect the opinion, but I don’t listen to it and never have."

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Rodgers, who was named Glen’s Vodka Manager of the Month for September, believes most Celtic fans would've taken being on three points after two league-phase matches and says he's not naive to think there wouldn't be setbacks along the way if his team are to quality for the knock-out stages.

(Image: PA) Asked about the importance of not dwelling on one poor result and bouncing back with a strong league showing versus Ross County in Dingwall this weekend, he said: "You have to have that for me. Like I said, you can dwell on it and blame everything - it doesn’t really work for me.

"I owned that the other night, and I’ve had a number of these in my time here. I’ve won against big opponents in big games. I beat Chelsea in the FA Cup, and then they went and won the Champions League a couple of weeks later!

"I’ve worked in big games and won big games. That’s why I have that confidence that when you lose a game of that magnitude, then it is tough - especially for those who are experiencing it for the first time.

"Setbacks are part of the journey, but they’re also a part of the ambition of where you want to get to. Because if you think you can just get there plain-sailing, then there’s no chance. It doesn’t happen.

"If we were going to qualify after eight games, there was always going to be some tough moments along the way. We had a brilliant one vs Bratislava, a tough one in this one. Three points in six, I think we would have all taken that. We’ll move on from the game, and hopefully, there’s great learning from it."