Video: Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers reacts to defeat vs Feyenoord | OneFootball

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has reacted to his side losing their opening UEFA Champions League game against Feyenoord. The Scottish Champions started brightly in Rotterdam and were more than a match for Arne Slot’s side.

On the stroke of half time, Stengs’ free-kick managed to squirm through the wall and bounce awkwardly before Joe Hart putting the hosts in the lead. The Englishman was furious with his wall and both Kyogo and Celtic’s No.1 will see their part in conceding the first goal.

Then, in the second half, Feyenoord were given a penalty which resulted in Gustaf Lagerbielke being shown a second yellow and dismissed. Contact was minimal but the decision stood. Hart atoned for any part he played in conceding the earlier goal by saving the penalty from Paixão.

Three minutes later, Odin Thiago Holm was shown a straight red card for a high tackle of Wieffer. It was probably a yellow card in real time but once the referee flashed the card there was no way VAR would overturn it. From the resulting free-kick Feyenoord scored through Geertruida but it was correctly ruled out by VAR.

Now with nine men, Celtic dug-in as best they could in the face of attacking from the hosts. A cross was steered back into the box by Alistair Johnston before Iranian forward Jahanbakhsh made it 2-0. Thereafter it was damage limitation for Celtic, who survived a third in injury time that was ruled out by VAR.

Speaking after the game, Rodgers spoke to Celtic TV and was disappointed with the result but pleased with some things that he saw from his team.

Fine margins cost Celtic but at this level, they are amplified. The manager will now turn his attentions to Saturday’s game against Livingston and hope that a head of steam domestically can prepare Celtic for the next UCL game at home to Italian side Lazio.