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Brendan Rodgers explains rampant Celtic restart as Hoops get 'wow' treatment after Slovan Bratislava hammering

Brendan Rodgers
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Brendan Rodgers has revealed what he said to his Celtic stars at half-time to spark an inspirational second-half mauling of Slovan Bratislava.

The Hoops battered their opponents at Parkhead to walk away with a stunning 5-1 victory and win their first opening night Champions League game ever. There were five different goal scorers - Liam Scales, Kyogo, Arne Engels, Daizen Maeda and Adam Idah - but the game was still on a knife-edge at 1-0 when the whistle blew for the break.

Rodgers sat his players down and urged them to stay calm and play to their strengths by coming out firing - and within two minutes of the restart it was 2-0 and game essentially over.

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"We were just a fraction slower on the ball than we'd have liked with three touches instead of two," Rodgers told TNT Sports. "The tempo was very good and still we were strong in the first-half. Then we just reiterated a couple of things at half-time and in the second-half? Wow.

"The hunger, pressing, counter-pressing, mentality of the team, I was so proud. And the quality of the goal was sensational. You can see the young players at the level and the whole build up around Champions League and what that brings. They try and be a little bit safe, wee touch, pass. I just reiterated we don't have to do anything special, be us.

"Play our game, don't complicate the game. Just a couple things around positioning. Re-enforcing the good pressing elements."