Brendan Rodgers has stressed that Celtic’s indomitable spirit can help them defy the odds in the Champions League.
Rodgers admitted his side are not in their best form so far this season and they have ongoing problems in central defense ahead of Tuesday’s Group E opener against Feyenoord in Rotterdam.
Nat Phillips is a doubt with an ankle problem, while Cameron Carter-Vickers, Mike Nawrocki and Stephen Welsh are ruled out, leaving Liam Scales and recent signing Gustav Lagerbelke as the only two certain options for Rodgers.
Celtic are the outsiders of the group behind Atletico Madrid, Lazio and the Dutch champions, but Rodgers is aiming for some progress and perhaps the Champions League.
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“I think success for us as a club is to be in Europe after Christmas,” he said. “This is our goal. Whatever the competition, as long as we are in Europe after Christmas, that is our goal.
“But in a group anything is possible. We strive to be competitive in all games.
“I think this is a case where anything is possible.
“People ask you to predict what you want to do and what you want to achieve, but I think the way we want to play the game with our competitive spirit is important in the Champions League because you are playing against the best teams.
“Already this season we have seen that the spirit of this team will never be broken.
Celtic Park
The Celts are training in Paradise before traveling to Rotterdam!