Why you should ‘never trust’ Brendan Rodgers after Celtic’s draw at Atalanta

Celtic showed some serious life by producing an unexpectedly strong defensive performance in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

After starting this revamped Champions League format full of life, confidence and expectations, Celtic were quickly brought back down to earth by Borussia Dortmund.

That’s why expectations were low heading into the trip to Italy where Brendan Rodgers would come up against a side that had won the Europa League the season before.

Added to that, they are also the top goalscorers in Serie A, but you never would have thought that as Celtic produced a defensive masterclass against Atalanta.

It was a performance to be proud of and one that should now give the rest of the team the belief that they can do something serious in the Champions League.

But Spanish football expert Guillem Balague explained why Rodgers shouldn’t be trusted after the Bhoys surprised many by changing tact.

Brendan Rodgers wasn’t telling the truth before Celtic’s draw against Atalanta

As soon as Celtic conceded seven goals to Dortmund, you just knew what was coming Rodgers’ way and how he was going to face a verbal backlash.

And that’s exactly what happened.

Throughout, he suggested that he won’t change, but Balague feels he called everyone’s bluff and shouldn’t be trusted, as a result, as he told Match of the Day.

“Especially now that Brendan has changed his way in Europe a little bit, that’s why you should never hear the managers after the game or not trust them that they are telling the truth.

“Brendan after the defeat to Borussia Dortmund said ‘how do you want us to play in Europe?’ Saying defending is a style of being cavalier. That didn’t happen, did it?

“A team that is the highest goalscorers in Italy. A great defensive performance. If he balances that a little bit, then they can get the points.”

What Brendan Rodgers said after Celtic’s draw against Atalanta

Regardless of what was or wasn’t said, the fact of the matter is that it worked and it has brought back some much-needed belief into the system.

After the game, Rodgers explained how he will ‘learn until my very last breath’ after his own players had just gone through such an experience.

“Each day of my life I am learning. Until my very last breath I (will learn). That’s the type of person I am.

“That’s what allows you to springboard even further than where you were, so you think of the Borussia Dortmund feeling. After that, we don’t want that again in the changing room. And that has allowed that trampoline effect to really push on and learn from it.”