Brendan Rodgers takes two Celtic outs off the Champions League table
The Irishman is preparing his side in testing conditions in Kazakhstan with the tie on a knife-edge
Brendan Rodgers will refuse to accept any excuses from his Celtic squad in their Champions League showdown in Almaty, writes Michael Gannon from Kazakhstan.
The Hoops’ hopes have been left in the balance after last week’s goalless first leg draw in Glasgow – and no Scottish side has ever won in Kazakhstan.
Rodgers’s men made the 3,500 long haul trek on Sunday and will kick off in boiling conditions at altitude.
But the manager insisted he’s not going to accept any bleating about the journey or the conditions and his players do not need any reminding of what is at stake.
Rodgers said: “No, I don't need to explain it. Every player, every coach, manager wants to look at the highest level of club football.
“For us, that is the Champions League. I think for me, it's more based around, don't worry about failing, worry about performance.
“Because if you think so much of the consequences, then it can paralyse you. That's not something we want to do. We have to play our game, play the football we've played in a lot of the league games this year.
“If we can take that into the game, then we've got a fantastic chance of qualification. There's no excuse for us. Especially when you see how well Kairat worked last week.
“So they had the same journey going the other way. So that won't be an excuse for us. We all feel great, we’re staying in our own time zone.
"We can give lots of excuses. The heat, of course, it will obviously be warm at kick-off. But it won't really wash.
"We have to perform and that's all we're focused on. And as I said earlier, whether it's the sun or the pitch, we have no excuses. We're here to qualify.”
Celtic failed to land attacking targets before the tie but the Michel-Ange Balikwisha transfer saga will be over when the forward completes his £5m deal later this week and Rodgers is hoping to have at least one more new face on board before the Rangers game on Sunday.
He said: “There might be. I think by the time we get back, hopefully we'll be close to them.”
Rodgers insisted the Old Firm showdown is well and truly on the back burner though.
When asked if it was on his mind, he said: “No, none whatsoever. Like the weekend, we were really focused on getting the team out that was ready and prepared and come through that.
“Our focus is very much on here. We all know what's at stake but we all know we have to play well and perform and that's the focus.
“Whatever happens in the game, we then get by it and we know the magnitude of that game. There's no loss of focus.”
Kairat boss Rafael Urazbakhtin accused the Hoops of underestimating his side in Glasgow. But Rodgers said: “No, we always respect every opponent. We know they're going to be a good side and hard to beat.
“We didn't quite play to their level, especially in the first half. But I think the advantage of two legs is that you get a chance to play against the opponent.
"We know they are really hard to beat, hard to break down. It's really up to us to impose our game. Having the first leg now really helps us because we know the players we're up against.
“We look forward to that challenge. But certainly we never disrespect or underestimate any team. If you overthink it – and I felt we probably did that a little bit in the first half last week – then you don't play with freedom.
“You have to go into these games, we know what's at stake, it's very clear. The only way you get to where you want to get to is by playing how you want to.”
Hitman Adam Idah is back in the frame after missing the weekend win against Livingston there’s no guarantee the frontman will walk back into the side.
Rodgers said: “I think one, just making sure fitness-wise he's okay. But I think availability is what you want as a coach and a manager and that gives you options within the game, whether it's to start or change the game from within.
“We're all very relaxed but focused. The preparation has gone really well.”