In the second round of the UEFA Champions League stage match played in the early hours of October 2, Beijing time, Celtic defeated Borussia Dortmund by a score of 1-7 After the match, Celtic boss Rodgers gave an in-depth summary of the game.
Rodgers said, "It was a tough game for us and the result was unacceptable. We didn't play our best and Dortmund showed their full strength as a top team. We didn't start well and every mistake was punished harshly by our opponents."
He further stated, "At this level, especially away from home against a top team, you need to be at your best. However, we didn't do that and Dortmund played at their full level. They took the initiative in the game and started controlling the ball well, while we looked a bit passive."
Rodgers believes that Celtic had problems with technique and the quality of their passing: 'Our passes either weren't good enough, we didn't make the right choices, or we didn't touch the ball well enough. Technically, we didn't play well enough this game. At times we stood too open and that gave Dortmund a lot of chances."
Despite the heavy defeat, Rodgers said he would not change his team's style of play: "We went into this tournament with plenty of self-belief and the team has been playing well this season. So I think we are still in a good position. But, we need to perform better in the opening stages and get into the game quicker."
He also emphasized the need for the team to improve on their stand-offs: "When we analyzed the game, we found some stand-offs, which we have to improve on. Our passing and lack of discipline were punished by our opponents, who were extremely efficient in their finishing, and it cost us dearly."
Finally, Rodgers praised Dortmund's performance: "Dortmund is a very good team, they have top speed and power. Once they broke through our defense, that speed and power was on full display. That's what we experienced today."
