STAYING CAM
Brendan Rodgers explains how Celtic can cope without Cameron Carter-Vickers for Borussia Dortmund Champions League clash
He knows it will be a massive test against last season's runners-up in one of European football's iconic arenas
BRENDAN RODGERS has challenged his Celtic stars to take their game to the next level in Germany.
Rodgers’ Hoops face Borussia Dortmund in their second Champions League group game.
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It’s been SEVEN YEARS since Celts have won away from home in the competition.
But Rodgers insists his players can end that run against the Bundesliga giants.
He said: “I think for us it's looking to bring our game to the next level.
“I think how we've been performing over probably the last six, seven months has just been increasing.
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“Now we've come to this level and we're under no illusions about what.
“We're playing against a team that are challenging the very top end of elite football.
“But for us, I've always said, whether it's domestically or whether it's away in this competition, it's making us a really difficult team to play against with and without the ball.
“So for us that's what we want to be able to do.
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“I'm not looking for perfection, I'm just looking for us to be really, really difficult to play against and give everything we have.
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“Like I say, bring our game, which is to press, to fight, to run.
“We know at times that quality drives you back and then it's having that resilience in those moments.
“But we also know that we have a game that can hurt teams as well, with our football and our speed. So I'm really excited about seeing that
“It's the second of eight games.
“Whatever happens after this game, we'll arrive back into the changing room and I still know that I've got a very good team.
“That's still got a lot of progression to make but what a great test for us.
"A great test to come up against a top team with top players.
“I'm looking forward to seeing that and as I said, I'm very relaxed but focused in that we can get a result that can build on the first game's result.”
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Rodgers has been hit with a blow, however, with injured defender Cameron Carter-Vickers ruled out.
He added: “Cam is not available.
“We'll see what he's like going into next weekend but he's not here.
“Clearly he's a top class player for us.
“He's missed a little bit of Champions League football in his time.
“Five of the 12 games that the club has played, he's unfortunately not been able to play in.
“But we've got other players. It's always an opportunity for someone else to come in and hopefully we can get Cam back sooner rather than later.
“But like I say, we can't overthink it.
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“We will rely on a collective. There's not one player that brings our results and how we've been this season.
“Of course he's a very important player, Cam. But for us to get a result, it will be by the collective.”
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