Brendan Rodgers is excited by Celtic’s chances of Champions League progression after the draw for the expanded league stage was made this week, but dismissed suggestions that his club had been handed ‘easy’ fixtures.
The Celtic manager pointed out that his side will face the finalists in last season’s competition in Borussia Dortmund, as well as the Europa League winners Atalanta, with both of those games away from Celtic Park.
He admitted though that the home fixtures in particular do look to have given his team a real chance of making their mark on the competition.
“We want to be competitive in it and that's our chance,” Rodgers said.
“But we have to remember it's the elite level of club football. Some people will look at some teams and think that's easy and that's not the way football works.
“But for me, it's a brilliant draw. I'm really excited by it and when it comes, as are all the players and staff.
“The teams that we've got, absolutely fantastic. We're playing against a Champions League finalist, we're playing a Europa League winner amongst the other teams.
“I think this is the key thing, is not to underestimate and not to assume that because we're playing Club Brugge that there are maybe not good players in there or Red Bull Leipzig. This level of competition, there's nothing easy in it.
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“Okay, you might not be playing the team that's won it 14 times, but it doesn't mean the other teams aren't very good.
“But what it does give us, it gives us that confidence. I think now in our game and our model and how we're working and how we're developing then it gives us a real nice opportunity to go make a mark at that level, and that was always what we wanted to be able to do.
“We'll have the support. The stadium will be absolutely on fire, and I cannot wait.”
