BRENDAN RODGERS says that Celtic are still on course to reach his goal of European football after Christmas despite the devastating last-gasp defeat to Lazio, but they have to be realistic about their chances of progression in the Champions League.
The loss to the Italians at Celtic Park on Wednesday night left his side without a point from their opening two matches in their section, and with a double-header against Atletico Madrid to come before a trip to Rome for the return against Lazio and a home game against Feyenoord, the Scottish champions have a mountain to climb.
Rodgers acknowledges how difficult it will now be to reach the last 16 of the tournament, but as his players continue to learn from bruising experiences such as Pedro’s late winner for Lazio, he says they will have every chance of at least securing European football into the new year.
“Listen, there are four games to go,” Rodgers said.
“But I am under no illusions. I know the level that the three teams who are in the group with us are at.
“I have always been realistic, I have always felt that if we could get into Europe after Christmas then that is what we would be fighting for.
“I think we will get better, but we know the challenges of the teams that we will play. That won’t stop us fighting and working.
“As the squad develops and develops in quality then [qualifying for the knockout stage] is something that absolutely we aim to do.
“The indication of [the performance] was the supporters at the end. They were obviously as disappointed, as we were, but they also recognised the effort that the players put in.
“At that level here it is a big challenge. But we were really competitive in the game, showed some great moments of quality and looked like we were going to win the game.
“There is absolutely no doubt that the team is progressing and working well. Nights like the other night are a big part of the learning for a lot of the players who come into the club.
“There always is [a learning curve] when you are working with young players. I think the attitude of the team in the second half was to go and win. We looked like we were going to win. We had that feeling of wanting to go and push to the very, very end. Unfortunately for us, when we lose it, it has cost us.
“I can’t complain about what the players gave to the game, the effort they put in and the quality that they showed as well.”
A massive part of the learning curve Rodgers references is knowing when to go all out for the win and knowing when not to over commit.
“It is game management,” he said.
“It is management of the game. You look like you are going to win it. Then you don’t look like you’re in danger of losing it.
“There is a long ball, a ball we have got to deal with. We obviously have the ball. But we are so intent on winning the ball that we come out of the space and when we lose it, we are so exposed at the second post. Then we are outnumbered.
“Sometimes it will go against you. I just think that we can manage it better. We are still in it, still in a good position to not leave the space. But that’s the learning.”
