Despite the problems and issues surrounding Celtic’s first leg clash with Linfield Brendan Rodgers was pleased to have managed a team at Windsor Park.
The man from Carnlough hadn’t been at the stadium since being there as a schoolboy internationalist before going on to manage at the greatest arenas in the game.
On Thursday UEFA will dish out their punishments but as he showed after the final whistle when he individually went round the Linfield team Rodgers has a deep affection for his homeland.
“I’ve been very fortunate in my managerial career to manage at the Bernabeu, the Nou Camp, Anfield and Old Trafford and Wembley and all these great places,” he told The Sun.
“But Windsor Park was somewhere I’d never managed. So to have done that and walked out with a team there was a really special night, even though it was half full.
“Going back home is always special — I enjoyed it. The bit at the end taints it, of course, but I tend not to focus on that.
“There was a lot of goodwill around our trip there and I don’t really want to go back into what is dark-age stuff really for Northern Ireland.
“The idea is to look forward. I’m very proud to be from Northern Ireland and I always want to have that positivity around the country.
”The home tie should be a great occasion, the first competitive game back at Celtic Park.
“Hopefully there is a good crowd, it’s sold out, the team’s getting fitter as we go along, so I see us getting better.
”It is a new pitch and there is good speed on the pitch. It should be hopefully a good night for us — get through, that’s the aim.”
Rodgers could be in for another trip to Ireland in the third round of the Champions League- if Dundalk overcome Rosenborg tonight in Norway.
After a 1-1 draw at Oriel Park the stakes couldn’t be higher for both clubs in tonight’s second leg.
If Dundalk go through a venue has still to be announced for the return leg which will be on Tuesday August 1.
Oriel Park isn’t licensed to host third round matches with the realistic options being Tallagh Stadium or the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.