I'VE WON A WATCH

Rodgers thrilled being in thick of the action as he could have been in stands looking on tonight if he'd taken that planned year out after all

- CRAIG SWAN

BRENDAN RODGERS admits he could easily have been sat in the stands tonight watching Celtic take on Atletico Madrid.

But the Parkhead boss admits he’s thrilled and excited about being right in the heat of the Champions League battle at the Civitas Metropolitan.

Rodgers’ passion for Spanish football runs deep, back to the start of his coaching career.

The Celtic boss can speak the language and having had plans to take a year out of the game before being offered the chance to return to Glasgow’s East End, revealed he’d have spent his time travelling the continent and learning from the elite.

Rodgers is steeped in the Spanish game having had plenty of his education here, as he explained: “It goes back to when I was a young coach.

“When I was trying to improve myself, thinking about the way I was feeling on how the game should be played, I went to Spain. Along with Holland it was a big reference point for me.

“I had the opportunity to visit clubs here and the way I was received as a young coach, whether it was Valencia or Barcelona or Seville, they really opened the doors for me.

“They gave me a comprehensive education on how a really good club operates from top to tail.

“The playing style in Spain was huge for me, technicality and tactically how they play the game. That was a great inspiration for me as a young guy coming through.

“From there I was interested in that fusion with the British mentality. I wanted to use our mental strength, and the running, while encouraging the players to play the game at a technically and tactically high level.