Brendan Rodgers insists Celtic players meeting demands as he sets Champions League challenge against world’s best.

Brendan Rodgers insists Celtic players meeting demands as he sets Champions League challenge against world’s best

Brendan Rodgers insists his Celtic players are starting to meet his demands after a thumping win over Hearts as he set his sights on stunning one of the world’s best in Atletico Madrid.

The Hoops cruised to a 4-1 win at Tynecastle where they could also afford to miss a penalty with Reo Hatate hitting the post from 12 yards after Kyogo won a controversial spot kick award. But it didn’t matter despite Lawrence Shankland giving the Jambos a glimmer of hope as Matt O’Riley and Daizen Maeda had the champions on easy street by then. And Tomoki Iwata rattled in a fourth after Kyogo had made it 3-0 to restore Celtic’s seven point lead at the summit.

Now attention turns to Spanish giants Atletico Madrid in the Champions League at Parkhead. Rodgers was delighted with his side’s display and said: “It’s a fantastic win for us. Of course, this is a very difficult place to come. A lot of the game was excellent, scored some outstanding goals. I’m disappointed that, one, we didn’t score more and, two, the goal we gave away was a shame.

Brendan Rodgers insists his Celtic players are starting to meet his demands after a thumping win over Hearts as he set his sights on stunning one of the world’s best in Atletico Madrid.

The Hoops cruised to a 4-1 win at Tynecastle where they could also afford to miss a penalty with Reo Hatate hitting the post from 12 yards after Kyogo won a controversial spot kick award. But it didn’t matter despite Lawrence Shankland giving the Jambos a glimmer of hope as Matt O’Riley and Daizen Maeda had the champions on easy street by then. And Tomoki Iwata rattled in a fourth after Kyogo had made it 3-0 to restore Celtic’s seven point lead at the summit.

Now attention turns to Spanish giants Atletico Madrid in the Champions League at Parkhead. Rodgers was delighted with his side’s display and said: “It’s a fantastic win for us. Of course, this is a very difficult place to come. A lot of the game was excellent, scored some outstanding goals. I’m disappointed that, one, we didn’t score more and, two, the goal we gave away was a shame.

“But overall on the back end of a lot of travel for some of the players coming back from international duty to put in a performance here and play that well was very good. You have to come here and start quick and bring the game to a level that makes it difficult to Hearts. That energy and quality and the players dit that.

“The players are finding a level of understanding more of what we want. The tempo of the game was good from us, some of the quality was really good, and the only disappointment was that spell when it went 3-1 – we obviously missed the penalty – and we have to keep the ball better. I know we tired and there was a bit of fatigue set in but you can rest with the ball better than we did in that period of the game. But it was great, the substitutions came in and made a really good contribution – James Forrest was absolutely brilliant when he came into the game.

“Matt’s a wonderful football player but it’s knowing when you’re a No. 8, attacking midfield player, you want to hit numbers and it was a great ball by Luis Palma, he’s shown that a number of times since he has come in, but Matty’s finish was absolutely brilliant. First he makes the run, we always talk about the penetration to get behind the back line, but then to finish with that quality was very good. Kyogo’s contribution is very good. Celtic, over the years have always had a talisman, but it’s about the team. He’s a wonderful little striker, he gets goals and makes runs – he can make more runs – but overall he’s a fantastic focal point for us.”