Why Brendan Rodgers Finds It ‘Dangerous’ To Look At Dinamo Zagreb’s ‘Crisis’

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is ignoring Dinamo Zagreb’s supposed crisis ahead of tonight’s UEFA Champions League matchday six clash.

The Croatians have a plethora of players out injured and remain winless in their last five matches in all competitions. They also haven’t won at home since September.

The Hoops head into this one with a slight edge on their opponents and know that a victory could all but see them into the knockout rounds of European football’s premier club competition for the first time in over a decade.

While Zagreb seemingly have several issues going into the game, Celtic boss Rodgers is taking no notice of them: “I just don’t believe it,” he said (Celtic FC on YouTube).

“That’s the reality. When a team is in crisis mode, that’s always dangerous for me, and that’s why I never think about it and look at it because I always think it gives the opportunity for someone else to come in, whether it’s players that are missing or whether the form has not quite been good.

“What you know is in the Champions League, once the music comes, every team is motivated to win.”

Celtic line up in Croatia this evening looking to end a seven-year wait for an away win in the Champions League. Rodgers thinks his team have been ‘building towards’ such a feat since he returned to the club last summer.

There would be no better time to end the drought for an on-the-road triumph in Europe’s top tier than this evening, especially given three points would catapult Celtic into the knockout stages.

Zagreb will be no pushovers, but Celtic have been playing well on the continent this campaign and will fancy their chances at the Stadion Maksimir.

Kick-off tonight is at 5.45pm, with the action live on TNT Sports 2.