Celtic will face Zenit St. Pertersburg in the Europa league round of 32 this Thursday and their coach, Brendan Rodgers have sound a note of warning to his players about what to likely expect.
Celtic will be out to seek their participation in the Europa league as one in which they have a good chance of nicking something from it. Rodgers is aware of the threat of Zenit and he believed is far more than that of Anderlecht who they beat to a place in this competition.
Zenit is managed by former Inter Milan and Manchester City boss, Roberto Mancini, who has vast experience in European tournament. Celtic have not been able to muster a home win under Rodgers in six meetings with Barcelona, Borussia Moenchengladbach, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Anderlecht and Rodgers will hope to end that this Thursday.
It was due to their surprising 3-0 win in Brussels that made them qualify ahead of Anderlecht. They will have hoped that they travel to Russia first for the first leg but will now hope to get a good result in Scotland before the return leg in Russia in a week’s time.
Celtic are hoping to take their current firm after their win over Patrick Thistle in the fifth round of the Scottish cup and also the form of James Forrest is one that the Hoops will hope to carry into the match. His hatrick over the weekend, if repeated, can help Celtic have a chance to move to the next stage of the tournament.
Brendan Rodgers will have to find a way to make Celtic qualify and cement their place in European tournament. This is the opportunity the club have to stamp their name in Europe and Rodgers also to move among the elite coaches in Europe.