Brendan Rodgers wants his players to make Bayern Munich suffer at Celtic Park and re-establish the stadium’s reputation as a European fortress.
The Scottish champions face the Bundesliga leaders in the first leg of the Champions League play-off having strung together six games unbeaten in the competition at home across two campaigns.
Rodgers believes a repeat of the white-hot atmosphere already seen this season can inspire his players to record a famous victory over the six-times European champions.
‘It’s not just a tick-box exercise for (opposition) players to come and say they’ve played at Celtic Park,’ said Rodgers. ‘You want them to hurt in this arena as well, and you want them to find the challenge of that combination between the supporters and the players on the pitch making it a really difficult night for them.
‘Obviously this will be a massive test of that, but that’s what we signed up for.
‘I go back to the Young Boys’ game here. I thought when it could have got a little bit nervy in the last 15 minutes, the supporters were amazing.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is keen to make life uncomfortable for Bayern Munich
Celtic have been boosted by the availability of Daizen Maeda who is no longer banned
Rodgers will also have Jota (right) at his disposal after the winger’s return to the club
‘They sensed it and they really got behind the team and lifted the team. So that side is very important.’
Rodgers has a full quota of players after Daizen Maeda’s two-game ban for being sent off against the Swiss, for a kick out at an opponent, was reduced to one on appeal.
Working on the assumption that the winger would be unavailable for the first leg, Rodgers played him in every minute of Celtic’s last three domestic matches, against Motherwell, Dundee and Raith Rovers.
Unconcerned by the impact that could have on his player, Rodgers said: ‘He’ll be fine for the games.
‘Don’t get me wrong, he has a lot of miles on the clock.
‘All the running, the pressing, his will to run and run and run is absolutely incredible. I haven’t worked with too many like that. So, we’re very lucky to have him here.’
Rodgers explained the circumstances which led to Maeda being freed to play – having served the remaining one-game suspension against Aston Villa.
‘It was brilliant by the club, I’ve got to say, because he was always going to serve one game.
‘But until you get the written report, which didn’t come through until Thursday, Friday last week, you can’t put in your appeal.
‘As soon as it did come in, obviously the club put in the appeal. Which, with the greatest respect to UEFA, we were thinking probably wouldn’t bear fruit.
‘And then when I got the call to say he was able to play, I thought, goodness me, he’s played the three full games. He couldn’t run any more as a striker, as a winger.
‘But thankfully he’s just a bundle of energy, so he’ll be okay.
‘I was a wee bit surprised when it came through. But it wasn’t unsurprising because of getting two games. What was that word? Assault, aye. Assault was what was causing it. It wasn’t an assault – that was in the report. So, I think, on that basis alone, the club were great. They appealed and thankfully we won.’
After accruing 12 points from eight matches in the revamped league format, Munich are Celtic’s first opponent in the knock-out stage of the tournament for 12 years.
Rodgers feels his players have demonstrated they belong on this stage and have nothing to fear from such a heavyweight opponent.
‘Over the course of the eight games we’ve played Borussia Dortmund, top team. Atalanta, top team. Red Bull Leipzig. who have come into the tournament as one of the leading teams.
‘So, we’ve proven in this first season that we’re making progress. But, of course, we were in it for a purpose and that was to get to this stage, past the eight games.
‘Bayern Munich are one of the giants of the European game. They really are football royalty in terms of what they’ve achieved over many, many years at this level.
‘For us to be in a position where we can challenge them, it’s a great marker for us.’
Rodgers naturally wants to win the game yet feels that any outcome that sees his side travel to Bavaria with a decent chance would be acceptable.
’If we can do that with the energy and the support behind us, then anything is possible in the game.
‘What is important for us is that we’re very much alive in the tie going over to Germany. That would be the key message for us.
‘We’re not frightened to lose. That’s not what this is about.’
Rodgers says it’s hard to understate the threat Harry Kane will pose as the England forward prepares to play at Celtic Park for the first time.
‘I can’t speak highly enough of him,’ he said. ‘He was absolutely brilliant at Tottenham, showed the same for England, and he’s gone out to Bayern and you just need to look at his goals record. A fantastic player and a good guy.’