Brendan Rodgers: We know the importance of a strong first leg at Paradise

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Celtic F.C.

·19 de agosto de 2025

Brendan Rodgers: We know the importance of a strong first leg at Paradise

This week marks a return to European action for the Hoops as Brendan Rodgers and his side enter UEFA Champions League qualification at the Play-Off round.

Just two matches against Kazak side, FC Kairat, stand between the Bhoys and a place in the league phase of the UCL.

Vídeos OneFootball

First up is the home leg at Paradise, and speaking to the media ahead of the game, the Celtic manager spoke about the importance of a strong result in the home leg.

He said: “We are very relaxed but focused on the game. We've started the season well and put in a really good performance in the last game.

“We're fully prepared to go into this type of game. There are a number of us who have experienced this before.

‘So we know the importance of the home leg, but we are looking forward to it.’

“I think that’s how we play anyway. We set off in every game to go and attack the game and play our football.

“This will be no different. Two out of the three qualification campaigns I’ve had has been based around a really, really good first leg.

“In both those, we scored five goals. So for us, it’s about that attacking intent and being really difficult to play against. Hopefully, we can then take an advantage then into the second leg.”

Although last season saw Celtic enter the league phase automatically, you don’t have to look too far back to previous qualification from the play-offs.

Wednesday evening will offer up that latest challenge, with the Kazak side travelling to Paradise for the first leg of the qualification tie.

The Celtic boss is well aware of the test his side face, going up against a team who are already midway through their league campaign.

However, Brendan Rodgers also believes the experience that he and some players within his squad have of this challenge from previous years will prove valuable.

“I think like a lot of teams at this level of qualification and in the Champions League are teams that are used to winning,” he said.

“You also look at them, they are 20 games into their season. They are well into the campaign, so they're going to be at a good level of fitness.

“They are a team that like to build the game from behind. Mostly short, and then as they progress through the pitch, the full backs go high, and the wingers come inside.

“So really as you would expect from a modern team at a really good level. Technically, they are strong and play some really good football.

'I think it’s very beneficial when you’ve gone through it, just for mindset, but also for preparation.'

“Travelling over there next week, having been the before and understanding how we do timings and set all of that up, it definitely helps to have gone through that qualification process before.”