Brendan Rodgers was pleased with Celtic’s determination after coming from behind to draw 1-1 with Club Brugge in the Champions League.
The Scottish side conceded first through a bizarre Cameron Carter-Vickers own goal in the 26th minute, before Daizen Maeda restored parity in the 60th minute in what Rodgers described as a “game of two halves”.
Celtic now sit 20th in the league phase of the Champions League on eight points. It leaves them just short of the 10-point target that should be enough to guarantee qualification for the knockout phase play-off round.
Despite failing to hit that mark at Celtic Park against Club Brugge, Rodgers was encouraged by the resilience shown by his side.
"First half not so good, second half much better. You obviously want to win every game, but first half we were very passive in our pressing and you could see they are a good side,” he told TNT Sports.
"Second half, we adjusted a couple of things and we had a much better press, which allowed us to sustain attacks.
"It's a brilliant finish from Daizen. We were much more courageous in the second half.
"So, so pleased with the second half. We kept going, showed determination right to the end. It's a really good point against a good side and we'll take that into our next game.
"We're still in a really good place. We're still well on track [to get into the play-off stage]."
Celtic have three games left to play, with their next test coming away at Dinamo Zagreb before they welcome Young Boys to Celtic Park in the new year and round off the league phase with a trip to Aston Villa.
They are undefeated in their last three games in the Champions League. Their last joint-longest unbeaten streak was from 10 December 2008 to 2 October 2012, leaving Rodgers confident about their prospects.
“We're on eight points, nine to play for. We can still get to very much on course to get to where we want to get to. And, yes, still three games to go,” he added.
“Tonight was always going to be a really, really dangerous game because on the back of the Leipzig and Atalanta results, people will look at Club Brugge and think we should definitely win that. But this is a team that's more experienced than us at this level.”
Ferdinand claims 'Rottweilers' Liverpool are the 'best team in Europe'
Rio Ferdinand believes Liverpool are the “best team in Europe” after they comfortably defeated Real Madrid at Anfield 2-0 on Wednesday.
The Premier League leaders earned the three points through two second-half goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo, while Kylian Mbappe missed a penalty that would have put the visitors level.
Liverpool became just the fifth side to win their opening five games of the Champions League campaign and concede no more than one goal in the process, after Milan (92/93), Juventus (04/05), Atletico Madrid (16/17) and PSG (17/18).
It left Ferdinand impressed with Arne Slot’s influence as he praised his side's tenacity.
"They have put the gauntlet down to all the other teams in Europe. They look like the best team in Europe at the moment," he told TNT Sports.
"They are playing as a team; they look like they have the hungriest individuals about. They are not only getting the results, but they look starving.
"They look like they haven’t been fed for ages. He’s sending them out like Rottweilers on the pitch, hunting teams down.”
Liverpool demonstrably outperformed Real Madrid to go top of the league phase in the Champions League with 15 points.
They racked up an expected goals (xG) total of 2.73 compared to Real Madrid’s 1.22 xG, taking 17 shots compared to the visitors’ eight.
"They’ve got the composure; they’ve got people like Mo Salah who have the killer instinct to finish games off. I thought all their players performed very well,” added Ferdinand.
"I said before the game that Arne Slot would have liked what his team can produce in a game of this magnitude against the Champions League winners, and he got a very positive answer."
Caoimhin Kelleher has now saved three of the four penalties he has faced for Liverpool in all competitions (excluding shootouts), while this was only the second penalty Mbappe has failed to convert in the Champions League.
Mbappe has just one goal in the competition this season, having struggled since joining Madrid in the summer.
However, former Real Madrid star Gareth Bale backed the 25-year-old to come good in Spain.
"It does happen. I’ve missed penalties, everyone has missed penalties. It’s just unfortunate that at the moment it’s not quite going Mbappe’s way," said Bale.
"But I think on his day he’s the best in the world. It’s just a matter of time before he comes good."
Maresca wants to keep Nkunku despite links to Manchester United
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has said that Christopher Nkunku is not for sale, despite rumours he is wanted elsewhere after a lack of Premier League game time.
Nkunku has made 18 appearances for Chelsea in all competitions this season, although his only start in the league came on the opening weekend and he has played 26 minutes in the competition since.
His goal record has been good so far, with six in the Europa Conference League and two in the EFL Cup, but Maresca explained that his absence in the league is due to 'balance'.
When asked if the 27-year-old was unhappy with his bit-part role in the squad, Maresca suggested that is not the case.
"Not at all. I spoke with Christo days ago, he did not say he is not happy," he said.
"Absolutely [he is not for sale], yes. The problem with Christo, not the problem but the same issue we have mentioned many times.
"If you play with Cole [Palmer], Joao [Felix], Christo, Jadon [Sancho] or Noni [Madueke], who is defending? Their skill is not defending. The last game, we tried Joao and Cole together.
"Probably the best moment for Christo with us has been in pre-season, playing in his position. Since we started, he is playing as a nine for us. Against City, he played as a winger knowing this is not his best position.
"His best position is as a 10 but Cole is playing there. We need balance."
Chelsea face Heidenheim away in the Europa Conference League on Thursday, where Nkunku will be expected to start, before playing against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday.
Kaheim Dixon focused on growth despite four-goal heroics against Wingate & Finchley
Jamaican international Kaheim Dixon delivered a sensational four-goal performance in just 25 minutes during Charlton Athletic U21s’ emphatic 9-2 victory over Wingate & Finchley in the London Senior Cup on Tuesday. However, despite his remarkable contribution, the young forward insists he still has room for improvement.
Speaking after the match, Dixon was candid about his performance.
“To be honest, it wasn’t my best performance,” he said. “I still have a lot of room to improve, and I will look to fix that in training.”
Dixon’s humility belies an extraordinary display that included a variety of goals, capped by a stunning bicycle kick for his brace. When asked to choose a favorite, the 20-year-old pointed to his third goal of the night.
“If I had to pick one out of them it would be the third! A through ball was played to me from the midfield, I’ve kicked it over the keeper and rolled it into an empty goal.”
The match, a dominant showing by Charlton U21s under manager Chris Lock, saw the young Addicks dismantle their senior opponents with clinical efficiency. Dixon praised the team’s effort and professionalism.
“I loved it out there tonight,” he said. “The boys gave it their all, it was a professional performance and that's all that matters.”
Dixon’s self-critical approach highlights his drive to improve, even as he continues to impress at both club and international levels. His performance on Tuesday not only secured Charlton’s progression to the fourth round but also underscored his potential as a rising star in Jamaican and English football.
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