Brendan Rodgers’ aspect produced a battling efficiency at Villa Park of their closing league section fixture of the UEFA Champions League.
Regardless of conceding two objectives inside the primary 5 minutes, the Hoops battled again and Adam Idah hit a double to degree the sport on the break.
Nonetheless, two additional Aston Villa objectives within the second-half gave the English Premier League aspect a 4-2 victory on the night time.
Regardless of that defeat, Celtic have progressed to the knockout play-off after a powerful European marketing campaign, and they’ll discover out on Friday whether or not they are going to face Actual Madrid or Bayern Munich.
Chatting with Celtic TV after the sport, Brendan Rodgers mentioned: “I believed we truly began the sport effectively in these first couple of minutes and we confirmed a confidence and authority with the ball, however then we received executed with two fast objectives.
“And that then actually is a check of your nerve, your coronary heart, your mentality, and the gamers shone in that facet proper the way in which by means of the sport.
‘We scored two unbelievable objectives, and we went into the second half and knew we must defend however we nonetheless had some good moments with the ball.’
“The sport’s within the stability proper to the very finish, however there was a mistake on the finish which places a bit extra of a shine on the sport for Aston Villa, however there’s nothing however pleasure.
“We’re placing on some younger gamers which have by no means performed for Celtic, by no means thoughts enjoying within the Champions League earlier than. So placing them in and, like I say, they confirmed an awesome mentality and an awesome want proper the way in which by means of the sport.”
It was Adam Idah who produced two wonderful first-half finishes to attract Celtic degree on the night time, though the house aspect restored their two-goal benefit within the second-half.
And the Irish striker’s efficiency drew reward from his supervisor.
“There’s clearly a number of strain being the striker at Celtic and Adam hasn’t fairly received the objectives that he would need, however I believed his two finishes had been wonderful tonight,” Brendan Rodgers mentioned.
“For the primary objective he’s needed to regulate shortly and confirmed nice athleticism to complete, and the second objective is a superb group objective and he’s on the finish of that to complete off.
“And, total, I believed he carried an actual risk and was an actual handful for Aston Villa.”
Now the Hoops await Friday’s draw when they are going to uncover their knockout play-off opponents, both Bayern Munich or the UEFA Champions League holders, Actual Madrid.
Both opponent is an thrilling prospect for everybody linked with Celtic.
“We’ve constructed a very good basis this season and proven that we are able to compete and play the sport to the extent that we wish, and proven that we are able to additionally defend,” the Celtic supervisor mentioned.
“Clearly, at this degree when you make errors you’ll get punished and also you’ve additionally received gamers with large high quality.
‘However, total, we had been very aggressive over the course of the eight video games which supplies us the 12 factors, and now offers us a very thrilling tie for the gamers and the supporters.’
“I’m very happy with the group, which supplies pleasure to the membership and to the nation, after which we are able to hopefully proceed to develop over the approaching years.
“It’s completely wonderful, all the trouble and dedication, all the things, to finish up with a type of two groups. It’s going to be a giant problem however we are able to go and, like we’ve proven at this degree, make it actually troublesome for groups.”
Fixtures
Aston Villa Vs. Celtic – Wed, Jan twenty ninth 2025, 20:00 Ultimate rating: 4 – 2