Brendan Rodgers urges Celtic stars to create their own Champions League magic as Kyogo told how he can rank with Larsson

The Irishman has been looking ahead to a big battle in the Netherlands for Celtic.

It”s a bit of a stretch billing this as a revenge mission 53 years in the making.

But Brendan Rodgers can still feel the weight of history on this clash as Celtic get set to take on Feyenoord. The Hoops boss doesn’t need a press officer whispering in his ear or a quick look on Google for background to this one. He’s well aware of the ancient backstory to an intriguing present day contest. The only other competitive clash with the Dutch big guns will forever be the one that got away for Celtic.

Jock Stein looked destined to win a second European Cup in three years when his men stepped out in the San Siro to face these upstarts from Holland. The narrative of eventual, agonising defeat, was one of complacency, only for a rethink in the coming years and the explosive of Dutch football in the 70s. Either way, there’s not much chance Rodgers will be taking Feyenoord lightly. The Eredivisie champs are a top side in red hot form – rattling 17 goals in their last three domestic games.

But Rodgers wants his men to embrace the past – and create something special for the present. He said: “The historical element to this club and this game is amazing. That’s what the game is about.

“We create out own magic. We take the supporters on a journey that can hopefully give them memories for a lifetime. Back in 1970, the club were going for their second European Cup in the space of a few years.

“What an achievement that would have been. To then lose in extra time was probably a galling experience. But that is success. Integral to that success is failure. It’s a part of it.

“For us here, we are at the beginning of a journey that excites me. I know we’ll grow and get better, with a bit of experience and patience we’ll continue to improve and develop.”

Feyenoord caused a shock that day in Italy. It’s up to Celtic to force one this time. Rodgers said: “I said to the players, everything is possible. Don’t think so much about consequences or what people might say about budgets or being a pot four team, all of that. I think we can surprise. I think we can come into this tournament and surprise.

“Of course the game is about levels but it doesn’t mean that you can’t surprise teams. That’s the mentality I want to give the players, so they can go and play with no fear. But we have to be clever with it.”

Rodgers is not going into this competition as a green gaffer now. He’s been over the course with Liverpool and Celtic before – and he led Leicester City to the last four in the Conference League.

He said: “The years give you better experience and knowledge helps.The outlook for me is that we have to work very hard and be very smart in our play to achieve at this level because of what we are playing against.

“But we have to write our story here. There will be moments when we are going to have press really high and be aggressive and impose your style on the game.

“Defensively there are going to be times when you are defending in emergency mode. We saw that at Ibrox recently where everybody was against you and we had to be ready for that mentally. It’s a mental shift.

“But then you have to have that conviction to impose the way you play. And that’s what we aim to do.” You look into each game and what the needs are for each game. Our ultimate feeling is that we want to qualify.”

Rodgers will need his back up men to perform and his stars to shine – players like frontman Kyogo. Hoops punters have been having a pub debate of late about whether the Japanese ace is now the best striker they’ve seen since Henrik Larsson – who, incidentally, was pinched from Feyenoord for just £650,000 back in 1997.

Talk about the steal of the century. Rodgers dodged the debate but he does know legends are made in European competition as he challenged his man to make his mark.

He said: “Listen, Kyogo is obviously a top striker. What made Henrik unique was his longevity at Celtic. In my time we had Moussa (Dembele), who was fantastic, Griff (Leigh Griffiths) was terrific. Henrik was over a sustained period, and that made him really stand out.

“The comparisons come with the movement and the levels of finishing. Kyogo is his own player. Henrik was a special player for Celtic and so it Kyogo. It will be longevity that will decide where he compares. It’s also about creating those moments, like Henrik did.

“It’s about opportunity because there’s no doubt he can score goals at this level. He’s got the speed and the movement – and the finishing. These are his moments.”

There’s a suspicion the players at the back will also need to produce moments of magic. Nat Phillips looks less likely to make it so Celts might have an inexperienced central defensive partnership of Liam Scales and Gusaf Lagerbielke. It’s just as well keeper Joe Hart is in top form.

Rodgers said: “It’s important when you have that experience. I told him after the game (against Rangers) the other week I felt it was one of his best games for Celtic.

“Why? Because you were calm. When you have young players in front of you, who maybe haven’t played at that level, you need to lead and help them with that calmness.

“Joe has great big game experience and big game mentality. No doubt he will be important for us as well. This is where you want to be as a player, a coach or manager. At the highest level in club football in Europe and to have that opportunity is really exciting.”