Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Rodgers hails calm approach
BOSS Brendan Rodgers hailed an “outstanding” Celtic display following the 1-0 win over Zenit St Petersburg in the first leg of their Europa League clash at Parkhead.
C a l l u m M c G r e g o r ’s stunning 78th-minute strike on his 150th appearance for the Hoops, after taking a pass from substitute Charly Musonda, gave the Scottish champions a deserved advantage for the second leg of the l ast-32 tie i n Russia next week.
Afterwards, the Celtic gaffer, who had dampened down expectations before the game against the visitors, said: “It was a very good victory f or us. I thought the performance was outstanding.
“We were playing against a top side, I think everyone recognises that.
“For large parts of the game we controlled it, tactically we were excellent and stayed calm when we had to defend.
“But with the ball, I was really pleased with our personality in the game, the control and calmness and we played with great maturity and capped it off at the end with a fantastic goal.
“A great piece of skill by young Charly and a brilliant finish by Callum, so I am very pleased.
“We had a couple of other great opportunities.
“It was just that touch and connection in the box and maybe we needed a wee bit of good fortune to go our way but it was very pleasing, the level of creativity and the calmness we showed on the ball.
“We looked a real threat in the final third. We could have had one or two more goals but I can’t be that greedy.”