It's Up To Us To Ensure We Go And Deliver An Intensity In Our Game That Gives The Supporters Hope

IN the wake of last Sunday’s emphatic 5-0 Scottish Cup fifth-round win over St Johnstone at Paradise, Brendan Rodgers said confidence will play a vital role in his side’s next game.

- Joe Donnelly

That comes this Thursday night when the Scottish champions host Spanish side Valencia in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League last 32 tie.

With seven wins out of seven and 21 goals without reply in 2019 so far, the Hoops are well-placed for what is likely to be their biggest challenge of the season to this point.

One player oozing confidence at the moment is club captain, Scott Brown, who, after committing the next two years of his career to Celtic Park on transfer deadline day, scored a stunning 30-yard goal against the Saints at the weekend.

“It was a wonderful strike,” said the manager of the 33-year-old midfielder’s goal. “If you actually watch how it came about, it came about from him pressing the game, getting up to the ball and working the ball. We get through, they clear it and he’s in that good position to have the touch and strike. His positioning allows him to do that.

“Like I’ve said all along, he’s a really gifted player technically and probably doesn’t get the credit that he deserves. That was a demonstration again of the level of his game. He can not only play the short pass, win the ball and give it, but he can also strike from 25 yards.”

Throughout Celtic’s recent run of form, the link-up, teamwork and symbiotic understanding that Brown and Callum McGregor share in the middle of the pitch has been remarkable. Better still, both play with a level of instinctiveness that appears to have gotten stronger since McGregor stepped into the controller role during Brown’s absence through injury earlier this season.

The strength of that partnership was showcased during Sunday’s game, and Brendan Rodgers was keen to praise the patience of both his players on the pitch, and the fans around the stadium from start to finish.