Celtic vs Atletico Madrid: ‘We don’t need to be best team in the world,’ says Brendan Rodgers
Brendan Rodgers wants his Celtic players to learn from setbacks as he insists they “don’t have to be the best team in the world” to beat Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
They host the Spanish side in Group E and will be looking to bounce back from them late home defeat against Lazio in their last match.
Atletico and Lazio top the Champions League Group E with four points, one point above Feyenoord, while the Hoops are still looking for their first point.
Atletico are fourth in LaLiga, three points off first place.
“It’s a fantastic team where we’re playing against one of the best in the world, but we don’t have to be the best team in the world to win,” Rodgers said.
“We just have to increase the pressure, play well and you also have to increase your luck a little bit.
“Hopefully, combined with the supporters, we can have a great evening and we will certainly give everything to get the desired result.”
A stoppage-time goal saw Celtic lose 2-1 to Lazio earlier this month in a match Rodgers said they should have won.
He wants his players to use the pain of that defeat to drive them as they look to have a chance of securing European football after Christmas.
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Celtic recorded a win over Hearts in their last match
“Adversity is one of the best things you can learn,” added Rodgers, who is unbeaten in the Scottish Premier League since returning to Celtic.
“The pain of that defeat was numbing because we didn’t feel like we deserved it.
“I am not here to offer condolences after lost football matches, but I respect the level we are at and it is up to us to try if we can be more progressive in our results to make progress.
“I think it’s important for us if we want to progress in any competition, we have to do something, otherwise it’s a hugely difficult challenge for us.”
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