Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has firmly stated he will not alter his tactical approach in Champions League fixtures, even after enduring criticism following a staggering 7-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund.
Rodgers, well-acquainted with the highs and lows of European football, has overseen some heavy losses during his tenure at Celtic, including a 7-0 thrashing by Barcelona and a 6-0 defeat at the hands of Atletico Madrid.
While his side has excelled in domestic competitions this season, showcasing their attacking prowess with a 5-1 victory over Slovan Bratislava to kick off their Champions League campaign, they were thoroughly outclassed by last year’s finalists in Dortmund.
This recent debacle has led some fans and pundits to question whether a more conservative strategy might be beneficial for Celtic in tougher European matches, suggesting that a pragmatic approach could make the team more competitive and less susceptible to lopsided defeats.
However, with a challenging fixture against Atalanta, the Europa League winners, looming on October 23, Rodgers has remained resolute.
He dismissed calls for a tactical shift during his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s clash with Ross County in the William Hill Premiership.
“I’m not really bothered,” he stated, clearly unfazed by the criticism.
“That’s my honest answer. You can’t turn a tap on and off. If you analyse the game you’ll see we were trying to press the game in the static position and then fall back into a shape, but that wasn’t to the level we wanted on the evening.”
Rodgers believes in maintaining his team’s attacking philosophy, which has garnered praise for its effectiveness in recent months.
“But we play how we play. It’s the same plaudits that are commending our performances over the last number of months that allows us to go into this game with this incredible amount of optimism that we can get a result out there. To just turn the tap back off and become super defensive is not how we play.”
He posed a rhetorical question to emphasise his point:
“So what do we do? Sit back, have 15 per cent of the ball and probably lose 3-0, 4-0? We’ve seen over six months teams that will come to us and sit back, play five at the back, 5-4-1 with no chance to attack.
“Or do you play how you play but know that the mistakes you’ve got to sharpen your teeth in, you’ve got to be brighter in and make quicker movements to close space. All those things are a learning process.”
Rodgers concluded with a strong personal conviction:
“I’d much rather do that and go down with my own vision than by someone who’s saying and who has never coached the game in their life or played, or done whatever. I respect the opinion but I don’t listen to it and never have.”
His defiance reflects a commitment to his tactical principles, setting the stage for a critical period in the Champions League.