Brendan Rodgers on Celtic Champions league exit at Lazio
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 Brendan, first of all, can I get your thoughts on the result and performance?
00:04 Clearly, the result was very disappointing.
00:08 In terms of performance, in the first half, we were too safe with the ball.
00:16 I felt we kept the ball, but we needed to progress the game that bit more.
00:21 Whilst we were fairly comfortable, in the second half we were much better.
00:27 We progressed the game through the pitch and managed the game well.
00:31 We arrived in the ascendancy in the last 20 minutes,
00:35 so we looked like the team that could go on and get the result.
00:38 We gave away two poor goals.
00:41 The first one, we were in a great position where we walked the ball up the pitch
00:45 and then we lost possession and never recovered our shape back again.
00:50 Then they got a bit of luck with the deflection into Immobile's place.
00:57 That was a tough one to take.
01:01 So, later on, we've got to be stronger and better for the second goal.
01:07 Good evening, coach. Are you happy with the result?
01:13 The result was disappointing.
01:16 In the first half, we had a good possession of the ball,
01:21 but we should have attacked more.
01:23 In the second half, we progressed and we weren't decisive enough.
01:30 In the last 20 minutes, we started to lose ground
01:33 and then conceded the first goal after the deflection
01:36 and the second goal in the final phase of the game.
01:39 Obviously, that means no European football after Christmas,
01:42 which would have been the aim coming into this campaign.
01:45 Is that a big disappointment for you?
01:47 It clearly is, yes, but we're disappointed that was the aim.
01:50 I think, sadly for us, over the course of all the games,
01:52 we've been hampered with our squad and availability,
01:56 which at this level, for us, we need to, at the very minimum,
02:01 have our best players available.
02:03 But I have to commend the players that have been playing.
02:06 They've given everything.
02:07 I think the game was very competitive right the way through
02:10 and, like I said, we were given everything to that.
02:13 Sadly, we conceded the two goals,
02:16 but effort and commitment was there from the players.
02:21 So, yes, it's disappointing not to have European football,
02:27 like what we wanted.
02:29 But we go into the last game now
02:31 and see if we can finish with a higher points total than last season.
02:39 We can say that we're disappointed, despite the season and this European campaign.
02:43 I can say that the players have given everything.
02:46 It was a very difficult, very competitive game.
02:49 We conceded two goals in the final phase,
02:51 but I saw the commitment of the players.
02:54 It's a shame we can't continue.
02:56 Brendan, you talked about being competitive
03:00 and lapsing the concentration again in this game,
03:03 and that's happened in previous games.
03:05 How do you change that for next season with this team?
03:09 I just think it's...
03:11 Well, tonight, in terms of lapsing the concentration,
03:14 we give the ball away and then, obviously,
03:17 I think you trace it back to the guy coming on the inside.
03:22 A little bit of luck has gone against us.
03:24 But I think it's the overall quality at the level.
03:28 I think we need to have our very best players available
03:32 to get into this competition
03:35 and also have an added quality.
03:38 That's what makes the difference.
03:40 I think these players here have been competitive in every game,
03:43 but what makes the difference is that little bit of experience
03:48 and genuine quality, especially at the top end of the field.
03:52 So that's hopefully something that we can look to resolve
03:56 over the couple of windows.
04:03 As we've seen in the second half of the game,
04:08 there's been a change.
04:10 Lazio have gained the courage to go forward.
04:13 How do you change that?
04:15 In the first half we kept possession,
04:17 but we weren't decisive in the goal.
04:20 We need to improve our overall level.
04:23 We need to have other players who are better at this European level.
04:28 We see a lot of quality in every game.
04:34 We need to have better players in the attacking phase.
04:38 We'll see if we can do that in the next campaign.
04:42 Brendan, I know it's raw and it's just finished,
04:46 the campaign's just over,
04:47 but just as you look at overall the experiences that the boys have had,
04:51 also the additions that you're hoping to make as well,
04:54 are you confident that you'll come back bigger and stronger
04:57 in this competition for the experiences that you've had
04:59 and the additions that you'll make?
05:01 That's the plan, Craig.
05:03 I think that, as you said,
05:05 the group of players have gained more experience at the level.
05:10 They've shown that they can compete in a lot of the games.
05:16 But we need to add quality.
05:19 That's the glaring thing that stands out, really, within this squad.
05:25 Like I said, if we can get those players available that are on the sideline,
05:30 add to that, then we can grow again and push forward.
05:36 I think it's important for us to be in this competition.
05:38 People will look at it and think, "You've only had one point and you struggle."
05:43 But it's still important for us as a club to be there
05:46 to help players develop and grow and keep looking to achieve.
05:53 So, yes, I think they'll learn from it for sure.
05:57 We can say that this experience can be seen as a positive one.
06:02 It could be useful to come back stronger in this competition.
06:06 Yes, because the players have gained experience along the way.
06:09 They've shown they can compete at this level.
06:11 But we need more quality to compete and keep up with these standards.
06:15 Obviously, once you have other players, you can do that.
06:20 It would be very important for us as a club.
06:24 Two more questions, please.
06:26 Good evening, Mr. Rogers.
06:32 Can you make a comparison between your three opponents of this group?
06:37 You have faced Lazio, Feyenoord and Atletico Madrid.
06:40 Which is the team between these three that has more chances to go further in the cup?
06:51 Well, I look at Atletico Madrid as the team that has the most experience and quality.
06:58 They have a lot of experienced players that have gone deep in European competitions.
07:04 They also have a big quality.
07:08 But both Lazio and Feyenoord are good teams.
07:12 It will be between those two, obviously, who then qualifies for the next stage.
07:21 Having played with both teams of this group, Feyenoord and Atletico Madrid,
07:26 who do you think has more chances to go further?
07:28 Atletico Madrid, the team that has more experience and quality.
07:32 But I'm sure that Lazio and Feyenoord are both good teams.
07:36 It will then depend on the qualifier.
07:38 Good evening, Mr. Rogers.
07:40 I'm Alessandro Vittori, from Lazio.
07:42 In light of the result tonight, you will certainly be decisive
07:48 if Atletico Madrid doesn't qualify for the next stage.
07:54 Even though your team has been eliminated.
07:57 But even though you've been eliminated, your team, for example,
08:00 has always held the game with Lazio.
08:02 They've been in the lead until the 96th minute,
08:04 and then they've come back to the 81st minute.
08:06 They've taken a point from Atletico.
08:08 What's the order of importance of the last match at home against Feyenoord,
08:13 after the elimination?
08:15 Thank you.
08:17 In light of what we saw tonight, the result,
08:22 you can say that the last match, your UCL match,
08:26 will be very important for us in this sense.
08:30 Against Lazio, first leg and second leg were very balanced.
08:35 Is it important for you to play the last match of UCL in a good way?
08:41 How important is that?
08:43 Yes, 100%.
08:46 We want to finish on a high.
08:49 We want to win in front of our own supporters.
08:52 Our support has been incredible,
08:55 from all around Europe, and they haven't seen us win.
08:59 We would love to be able to give them that victory at home
09:03 and finish off with a positive result.
09:09 100% it would be very important for us to finish well,
09:14 especially for the fans, who have been incredible throughout.
09:18 They want to see us win, maybe in a home game.
09:21 It would be very important for us to give them that victory.
09:25 OK, thank you very much.
09:27 [BLANK_AUDIO]