Champions League: Rodgers Hails Celtic's Fight

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Post on Nov 06, 2024

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Champions League: Rodgers Hails Celtic's Fight Despite Loss to Lazio

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers praised his team's fighting spirit despite a 2-1 defeat to Lazio in their Champions League Group E opener at Celtic Park on Wednesday. The Bhoys dominated possession and created several chances, but ultimately fell victim to Lazio's clinical finishing and a controversial penalty decision.

A Fight Until the Final Whistle

"I thought the players were fantastic," Rodgers said in his post-match press conference. "We played with a real intensity and created a lot of opportunities. We were unlucky not to score more goals, but we can be proud of the way we fought until the final whistle."

Celtic had the better of the first half, with Liel Abada forcing a good save from Ivan Provedel and Daizen Maeda narrowly missing the target. However, Lazio took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Luis Alberto cleverly converted a penalty after a handball by Cameron Carter-Vickers.

Late Drama and Missed Opportunities

The second half continued in a similar vein, with Celtic pressing for an equalizer. They finally got their reward in the 77th minute when Kyogo Furuhashi volleyed home a cross from Jota. But the joy was short-lived as Lazio regained the lead just four minutes later, with Ciro Immobile scoring from the spot after a debatable penalty was awarded for a foul by Greg Taylor.

"We gave everything we had, and we're disappointed with the result," Rodgers admitted. "We need to learn from this, but I am confident that we will get better as the group stage goes on."

Looking Ahead

Despite the defeat, Celtic can take solace from their performance. They were the better team for large stretches of the game and showed that they can compete at the highest level. The result also highlights the importance of being clinical in front of goal.

Celtic now face a tough test away to Feyenoord in their next Champions League fixture. Rodgers believes his team can bounce back from this setback and achieve success in Europe.

"We have to be more ruthless in the final third," he said. "But the spirit and determination of this team gives me confidence that we can achieve big things this season."

This Champions League campaign promises to be an exciting one for Celtic, and despite the initial loss, Rodgers and his players have shown they have the ability to challenge the best.