Brendan Rodgers has told his players that they have created their own European benchmark.
Tuesday night’s 1-1 with Borussia Monchengladbach was a well deserved point and only the third time that Celtic have returned from a Champions League match avoiding defeat.
Rodgers guided Celtic to a thrilling 3-3 draw against Manchester City but either side of that the hoops were a poor second to Barcelona and Monchengladbach when they visited Glasgow.
Dragging a club up to Champions League standards that failed to win in six Europa League matches last season is a massive task but after 90 minutes in Germany the Irishman believes that the message is getting through.
“Our way of playing, the model we are trying to create, will give them that confidence,” Rodgers explained.
“Domestically we have aggression in our game, attacking intent in our game. Now it’s a case of rolling that out in European football.
“It’s never easy playing against a different quality of player in a faster game but you see the improvement.
“We had a great performance against Manchester City at home and we should have won the game and in Germany I felt we were the better team.
“It’s a huge credit to the players that they have the belief to go and do that but when you have a record of, what was it, one win and a draw in 25 games at this level away from home? Of course, it can play on your mind a bit.”
Rodgers added: “It’s step by step. We need to create a playing style here and an identity that is going to allow us to have that confidence.
“I think that’s underway now and Monchengladbach was another example of the players adapting to the methods.
“I’m disappointed they didn’t win, but I think they take huge satisfaction from going to a stadium like that against a top-class team and playing that well.
“We should have taken three points instead of one. So it’s a big night for us in terms of what we are trying to do and the development of the team.”
