Wed Sep 18 01:30:00 UTC 2024: ## Celtic Boss Brendan Rodgers Confident Ahead of Champions League Opener

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has expressed his utmost confidence ahead of the club’s Champions League opener against Slovan Bratislava tonight. The Northern Irishman, who will be leading Celtic into his fourth group stage campaign, believes his team is better prepared than ever before for the demanding competition.

Despite only securing two wins in 18 group games across his previous two stints, Rodgers highlighted the significant progress made since his return last year. He feels the team has adapted to his style of play and gained experience, particularly evident in their impressive start to the Scottish Premiership season.

“This feels like the most ready I’ve been as a Celtic manager coming into a Champions League campaign,” Rodgers said. He attributed this readiness to a year spent developing the team and strengthening key areas.

While acknowledging the financial disparity between Celtic and many of their European counterparts, Rodgers remains optimistic about the club’s potential to compete. “If we can get our squad to a really competitive level, what we can do here at home can make it a really special place to be,” he said.

Despite being favored in tonight’s match against Slovan Bratislava, Rodgers emphasized the importance of respect for their opponents. He highlighted the Bratislava side’s impressive journey to the group stage, having navigated four qualifying ties.

The match between Celtic and Slovan Bratislava is scheduled for 8.00 PM BST and will be televised live on RTÉ 2 and TNT Sports 2.

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