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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Aidan Macdonald

Brendan Rodgers highlights Celtic Champions League advantage over Lazio

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has detailed the importance of home advantage in the Champions League ahead of the match against Lazio at Parkhead.

The Hoops are looking for their first points in this season's competition after losing 2-0 to Feyenoord in the group stage opener.

Maurizio Sarri's side drew 1-1 on the same evening in Rome against Atletico Madrid and while Rodgers acknowledges it will be a tough test he is hoping the Celtic fans can will their side onto victory.

He said: "It is such a special feeling and it was part of coming back. You have the chance here at Celtic to qualify for European football and this is the biggest stage you can get at club football in Europe.

"We got off to, in terms of a result, not a great start in the first game but I saw many aspects I was pleased with.

"To come here [Parkhead] and play this game is always special and it is about getting that emotion from the support that rolls down from the stand onto the pitch.

"For us, from the first whistle, we go straight into fifth gear and look to give everything to the game and perform and we know at this level, teams like ourselves have to be at 100 per cent.

"To be at 98 per cent, at this level, you will come unstuck so we have to give everything and we will do in terms of spirit and it is where this team is at and what they are developing and the mental strength in this team is growing all the time.

"With new players coming, they are starting to understand that. In our last league game, we showed that we have a real competitive spirit and no matter what time in the game it is, we will keep going."

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