Bayern Munich against Celtic: Brendan Rodgers doesn't want to be afraid in the play-off of the Champions League

Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers asked his team to play without fear and not to regret that Bayern is Munich.

Rodgers’ team traveled 2-1 to Germany in the Knockout Phase Play-Off by Champions League, but Daizen Maeda’s late goal in Parkhead gave the Hoops fans a glimmer of hope.

For the first time in 12 years, Celtic is in the KO -rounds and Rodgers believes that the pressure is eliminated in the Allianz Arena.

Rodgers said: “It is a challenge at this level. But it is something we want to accept this challenge.

“We did very well to get to this point. If you get to this point, you want to play top level teams. This is a team that has first-class players.

“I think it’s just the spelling that you have to get to this level and play without fear.

“I think everything.

“I look at this game and I’m so happy that I have this group of players who have a great mentality and incredible professionalism, and you can show it.

“Then we know that we have a chance as long as you can take this opportunity to do your best. It is always regret when you don’t. You just appear too late for the game.

“So there is no second chance. We have the only opportunity.

“I see it as a wonderful opportunity. I know, even if we go out after this game, this was a great adventure for us this season and we have shown progress at this level. We wanted that to make sure that we have this seriousness. “

“Celtic learned teachings from the defeat of Dortmund”

Rodgers believes that Celtic learned big lessons on the second match day on the 7-1 loss of Borussia Dortmund.

“We followed the game in the Dortmund game,” said Rodgers. “We had met early and the lessons came from it. Our plan was to be stable and constant and compact.

“I think that was great learning from this game. You are not tight, you are not stable, you are not compact, you are not concentrated and you leave space for world-class players.

“It is the sign of the group. We are a modest group. We got away afterwards and had some really good performances.”

Rodgers’ main dilemma seems to be whether he should start Maeda or Adam Idah through the middle after the Japanese striker changed the game with his press when he moved in the first leg.

That could mean that Jota has started his third game since he returned to Celtic, and Rodgers would like to start with the Portuguese winger.

“Yes, if we decide, we have to do that,” he said.

According to Schmeichel, the experience is “biggest gift” for him and new

The Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel sees the experience of himself and the Bayern Munich, Manuel Neuer, as a great advantage when the couple is driving again.

Both players were born in 1986 and both recently extended contracts that they bring in the summer of 2026 without the end date for both.

When it was a meeting of two “old goalkeepers” from a German journalist to Schmeichel (38) after the play-off of the Champions League, the Danish international said: “I don’t like this word. I would rather use the word experience.

“I think experience is the greatest gift you can have in this game. If you are still physically able and still have 800-900 games for the belt, this is the biggest advantage you can have.

“It is probably about 19 years ago since I played against Manuel for the first time. I followed his career very, very precisely. He is the most complete goalkeeper I’ve ever seen. No weaknesses.

“If he plays as he did in the other night, there are no limits. I am certainly not the kind of person who sets borders.

“Every opportunity is a gift and you have to take it. I am happy for him that he has that. He had a massive injury and came back from it.

“He is still one of the best goalkeepers in the world. It is always a pleasure to play against him. “

A doubt due to a facial injury

The striker of Bayern Munich, Harry Kane, trained on Monday afternoon and is a doubt for the Champions League game against Celtic.

The English captain, who achieved the winner against the tires in the 2-1 win of the Bayern last Wednesday, suffered a facial injury towards Bayer Leverkusen towards the end of the goalless Bundesliga Unit on Saturday.

When asked about Kane’s availability for the second board of the knockout phase of Tuesday evening, head coach Vincent Kompany said: “It is nothing bad with Harry, but we don’t have much time to relax.

“Sometimes you need an additional day. But we’ll see how Harry feels in the morning. I assume that it is nothing bad. We didn’t have long to recover.”

When he was later pressed before the game in his press conference, the Belgian said: “I was a bit blurred, as I said it, whether he was fit or not. Maybe a bit of a red herring. I can only say that we we will see (on Tuesday).

“We have to take advantage of how they are at home”

Kompany also has doubts about the sick Joao Palhinha, but he knows that his site is expected to win even though a tie would go through.

“I’m talking to people who understand it,” he said. “It is the same for us and Celtic. You have to win every home game and make the difference. It is the same for us and Celtic every week.

“If you play against teams that are used to dominating and scoring many goals in your domestic league, then you have a team that is always dangerous when you come forward.

“Celtic also showed that, but we did well against them. And we still have to play the second half of this draw. The parameters have not changed. But it is our home leg and we want to take advantage of it.”

Kompany added: “A lot can happen in a game like this. We have to be prepared for everything whether this leans back or push up.

“But in between a game can determine a lot. We have to be mentally there to do the right thing.”

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