Telling post-Chelsea Rodgers line that bodes well for Europe

The Celtic USA Tour 2024 was a huge success for Brendan Rodgers and his Celtic players, with the Hoops winning all three of their games in the States.

After steamrolling DC United 4-0 on Matchday One, Celtic went on to overcome English Premier League winners Manchester City 4-3, before wrapping up the trip with a 4-1 victory over Chelsea in Notre Dame on Saturday.

After the latter match, Rodgers was asked by Celtic TV about the tour as a whole – and while naturally pleased with the outcome of each encounter in turn, the manager hailed his side’s performances and how well they represented the club against some top opposition in the throes of some high-profile preseason friendlies.

With the reformatted UEFA Champions League fast approaching, there are parallels to be drawn between how Celtic have represented themselves by virtue of results across the Atlantic, and how they might be perceived on European club football’s biggest stage in the weeks and months that lie ahead.

Should Celtic be able to deliver the same levels of free-flowing attacking football, then surely their representation in Europe will be on a par with what we were treated to over that seven-day stretch.

“I think it is a great way to finish off the tour,” Rodgers told Celtic TV in his Chelsea post-match interview. “I just said to the players afterwards that all the work they have done and how they represented the club in their time here has been absolutely brilliant.

“They can take great pride in that. Also on the pitch, how we have played and how we have devoted the mindset to the work and the intensity of the games has been great.”

The Irishman acknowledged the fact that victories over DC United, Manchester City and Chelsea were all non-competitive preseason endeavours, but stressed that despite this, opposition of this stature never desire to lose games of football.

He added: “I know big teams don’t want to lose games preseason or not. In terms of performance, I think we got what you would want from a top team structure, you’ve got talent in the team and then you have work.”

The draw for the UEFA Champions League league phase matches will take place after the play-off round qualifiers, which are set to be held on August 20 and 21, and August 27 and 28.