Brendan Rodgers has defended his defenders.
Celtic take a three goal advantage into tonight’s second leg tie with Hapoel Beer Sheva but have lost two goals in each of their last two matches.
Quick doubles scored by Hapoel and St Johnstone have raised concerns about the hoops backline but after analysing both matches Rodgers believes that his defence are upto the task of holding off Hapoel.
“You have to be cute and clever,” the Celtic boss said anticipating tonight’s match. “You can’t go all guns blazing because we haven’t done that in any of the games.
“We have always had the balance. If you look at the goals we’ve conceded in the last couple of games, we’ve had a breakaway from a corner and one where the pitch was stretched last week.
“We’ve defended very well. In the game last Saturday, there was maybe a little bit of fatigue towards the end and we gave away a poor penalty then a sloppy goal but in the main, and the players will probably reinforce this, a big part of my work is about the intensity of the defensive organisation.
“From that position you can attack. So if you analyse our game in terms or where the goals come from, they normally come from a difference in pressure and aggression.”
Erik Sviachenko is available for tonight’s match giving Rodgers the option to bring in more experience to his defence but it’s likely that Eoghan O’Connell will retain his place at the back.
