Brendan Rodgers Celtic Glasgow, Press Conference, Germany. International Press Conference, Celtic Glasgow, Football, UEFA Champions League,, 17 02 2025, Munich Photo Eibner-Presse foto/Jenni Maul
Q: In terms of broader context, is it tougher than ever to pull off a result against a top, top team in Europe, which obviously Bayern are? Has that challenge been stiffer over the last few years?
Brendan Rodgers: “I think it’s definitely grown. There’s no doubt about that. It’s just the challenge of this level. But it’s something that we want to embrace, that challenge. I think that we’ve done very, very well to get to this point. When you get to this point, you want to play top-level teams. This is a team that has world-class players. But for us, our collective, and we’ve shown already in this tournament, that when we can play at the very top of our game, and if a team has anywhere near enough game, or they’re not doing their best, then we’re a team that can punish it.”
Q: Is this a game where all the pressure is on Bayern Munich? They’re at home, there’s a big expectation on them. And obviously, the final this year is in Munich as well.
I don’t think there’s any doubt that everyone will look at this game and us being the underdog in the game. That’s totally understandable. The revenue is everything. So we respect that. But that doesn’t change for us. We’re still very mindful to be super competitive in the game. And as I said, we know that if we can play to our level, then it can make the game really difficult. But there’s no doubt, we come in here as the underdogs.”
Bayern Munich’s Allianz Area Exterior Illumination
Q: How is it you go about getting the players to rise to the occasion at the Allianz Arena?
Brendan Rodgers: “I think it’s just spelling out that you come to this level, and you have to play without any fear. I think there are worse things in football that can happen than losing and worse things in life than losing a game of football. So for us, we want to ensure that when we come in after the game, if we don’t go through, we’ve given it absolutely everything. I’m so glad to have this group of players that have a great mentality and an incredible professionalism.
“If we can go and show that, then we know that we’re in with a chance. And as long as you can take that opportunity to give your very, very best, then you know you can come in and just say, listen, we’re beaten by the better team. The regret is always if you don’t, then you just turn up too late for the game. So there’s no second chance after tomorrow night. We’ve got one opportunity. We’ve got to be clever, we’ve got to be bright, we’ve got to be brave in the game. And if we can do that, we’ve shown in history, shown in sport, that as I said, anything can happen – so that’s what we focus on.”
Joshua Kimmich of Bayern Munich takes a corner kick during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern München and 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 at Allianz Arena on December 07, 2024 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Q: Brendan, across your two spells at Celtic, you’ve won so many trophies and played so many big games, but here tomorrow night in the Allianz Arena, with a place in the last 16 of the Champions League, is this one of your biggest games?
Brendan Rodgers: “It is. In the context of our European season this season, it’s a huge game. It’s also a huge opportunity. I see it as a wonderful opportunity. I know that when we come out after tomorrow night, and then lose the game, this has been a great adventure for us this season. And we’ve shown progress at this level. And that’s what we wanted to do. We wanted to bring stability. We wanted to make our supporters proud. We wanted to show that we have that respectability at the level, and that we can compete. And I think we’ve done all of those. So tomorrow night is the opportunity to get through into the last 16. It’s going to be huge. And it’s what I’m so looking forward to, to see us take on the challenge.”
Daizen Maeda of Celtic applauds the fans after the full-time whistle. Final score Celtic 3 Dundee United 0. Celtic v Dundee United, Premiership, Celtic Park, 15 February 2025 Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock
Q: Going back to last week’s game in Glasgow. It was obvious for the final 20-25 minutes how much Daizen Maeda was able to impact things for you, when played centrally through the middle. I’m just wondering for tomorrow whether that might influence the way that you look to shape the team up?
Brendan Rodgers: “It’s certainly something that we looked at and talked about as coaches. But whatever we go with, whether it’s Adam or Daizen, we still have the ability to fit the game. So, yeah, it’s something that, of course, is the design of the team. And what it is we want to do, it was certainly a consideration.”
