BRENDAN Rodgers last night insisted Celtic can score against Rosenborg in Norway next week and get the result which secures their place in the Champions League play-off.
The Scottish champions, missing both Moussa Dembele, who is out until September with a hamstring injury, and Leigh Griffiths, were held to a 0-0 draw at home in the first leg of the third qualifying round at Parkhead last night The treble winners, who were forced to play Tom Rogic out of position in attack, were lucky not to to concede a goal and lose the game as the visitors dominated the second half.
They now face a difficult task overcoming Kare Ingebrigtsen's side in the Lerkendal Stadium in Trondheim next Wednesday and progressing to the next round.
However, Rodgers believes keeping a clean sheet could be important and is hopeful his team will have more opportunities away from home which they can capitalise on.
“It was a little bit frustrating we couldn’t get the win, but 0-0 is never a bad result in Europe," he said. “It’s important that, if you can’t score, you don’t concede.
“We were up against it a wee bit without strikers, but they had a level of control and have shown an ability to be patient and wait for the openings.
“Chances can be few and far between, but I thought in particular we were good in the first half with positioning and just needed that final ball in the final third.
“You can see they are a good side. Champions of their country with a bit history. But they will also know that they’ll need to come out a little bit more than they did when they are at home. "They need to take more initiative. That opens the space. I think we scored more goals away from home last season. Yes, it’s evenly balanced, but we’ll be another week fitter.
“I was very pleased with the players overall with what they had to contend with in the game. We had enough pressure and control of the ball, but we’re four weeks into pre-season. I’m getting everything from the players at this stage.
“Rosenborg are midway through their season, they are going to be a bit sharper and more dynamic at times, but our players are still at a really good level. We’ll look forward to the second leg and it should open up for us."
Griffiths, who was suspended for last night's game after picking up a ban in the first leg of the second qualifying round double header against Linfield, has a calf injury.
Rodgers, though, is hopeful the striker will be ready to return to his side when they take on Norway in the second leg next week.
“We’ll see with Leigh," he said. "Even if he was available for this game, he couldn’t have played due to a strain. We’ll see how he is leading into next week.
“I would think Dembele is out until September. Of course it’s a concern when you haven’t got strikers that are fit, but I can’t worry about it so much.
“I need to focus on finding a way to get a result. Then I’ll look at it going forward.
“I thought Tom did well. We weren’t really playing him as a striker. He played a withdrawn role slightly ahead of normal and I was asking the wingers to come in and penetrate a little.
Erik Sviatchenko, who was ruled out of last night's game with an groin injury, has been linked with a move to Turkish club Besiktas, but Rodgers was unaware of any interest in the defender.
Scott Brown limped off at the end of the game after suffering a knock, but his manager is confident he will be available for the rematch with
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