Brendan Rodgers is convinced that Celtic can take the next step in the Champions League after a cruel exit to Bayern Munich | Football news

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is convinced that the hoops can reach the next stage of the Champions League in the future after pushing Bayern Munich to the end.

Scottish champions reached the knockout phase of the tournament for the first time in 12 years after they lost only twice in eight games in league format, and at that time they were seconds away from additional time In Allianz Arena.

Considering that Celtic entered the play-offs failed to replace Kyogo Furuhashi before the transfer deadline, there is a clear scope to strengthen in the summer, assuming that they are holding on to other best players.

“There are financial levels that we can never reach,” Rodgers said. “I think that’s clear. People talk about going to the next level. But it will always be a challenge for a club like us or clubs without finance really elite clubs.

“But we can certainly reach the next stage. And the next phase is what we have shown this season with the game level we can play and the confidence you gain, because it is a big deal at this level, having that trust in the Allianz Arena and play that way .

“And there is no reason why, if you can qualify from these group stages and perform as we do, there is no reason why you cannot go to the last 16 or quarterfinals.”

European progress was Rodgers’ ambition when he returned to Celtic in the summer of 2023.

“Without arrogance, I always feel I can do it,” he said. “I think I did it in my career, I won big games.

“When I was here for the first time, the reality may not have been built for it. We were home very good and then it was a challenge for us in European football.

“You will always have critics, there will be something else. Do something else and someone will say something else. It’s the way life is and what the game is. For me, I don’t really bother people think or say.

“My focus is very clear in helping this club to progress at that level and have credibility in Europe. I wanted to achieve that and I think we did it this season. Now we hope we can endure this over the next season.”

While the Celtic players will gain confidence from their appearance in Germany, Rodgers had to make sure they recovery from four -minute crushing in stopping.

There is no room for self -pity with an excursion on the Easter path that will come on Saturday against the Hibernian side that did not lose in 12 games.

“I told the players after the game, you can raise your head so proudly because of the opponent’s level,” Rodgers said.

“What you are looking for in this game is respect and you will come down from the field, and these guys will respect you for what you have done during several games. These are guys who will be challenging for perhaps the Champions League itself.

“So the disappointment was natural because of the nature of how the game was over. But I told the players, that we were sitting here, feeling so, it really shows how much you arrived.

“I looked into their eyes after Dortmund games (a 7-1 defeat in October) and that was really difficult. So it just showed you the mentality and resistance and the crumb that this team has. They prevail it, they were recovered recovered from the downtime, and then pushed further.

“We returned to the hotel, we drank beer, and then the next day we returned to training.

“Very rarely gets the opportunity to do it. Don’t worry, it wasn’t a typical Scottish night out! It was a nice relaxed beer and wine, and then we trained the next day, the rest overnight, preparing for Hibs.

“It is very important that you can just think about and relax and think about the moments in the game and performance, but you have to move on very quickly.

“We have a few months, so let’s finish on what can be an absolutely great campaign to us.”