What Brendan Rodgers told the Celtic players at half-time in draw vs Kairat Almaty

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Celtic were flat, nervous and out of ideas in the first 45 minutes against Kairat Almaty.

Even with the lion’s share of possession, Brendan Rodgers’ side couldn’t fashion a single shot on target as Celtic recorded a 0-0 half-time score against Kairat Almaty.

However, in the second-half, Celtic came out with more urgency and almost opened the scoring after James Forrest hit the post with just 30 seconds played.

So what did Rodgers tell his Celtic players in the dressing room that sparked that mini-revival of attacking form, because it didn’t do all of its job.

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Brendan Rodgers tells Celtic fans ‘the beauty’ about the Kairat Almaty draw

If there are any positives surrounding last night’s result, Celtic fans will not be expecting this one from Rodgers.

Rodgers said on BBC Sportsound, “Well, I think the beauty is, it’s a one-off game now. Sometimes over two games, they come and they defend quite well and get one or two little moments.

“For us, we weren’t quite quick enough, but we now know it’s a one-off game.

“We know we can win. We know we can win there, and we know we can play better. For sure, that’s, especially on the first half showing.”

I understand what he means and, I suppose, Rodgers has to put a positive spin on this result but needing to go to Kazakhstan and win is not an ideal situation.

What Brendan Rodgers challenged the Celtic players at half-time vs Kairat Almaty

So what did Rodgers tell his Celtic team before they appeared out of the tunnel for the second-half of the Kairat draw?

Rodgers continued, ” I think we can go out there and win, but we’re just going to have to, as I said, not wait on the game.

“And I said to the players at half-time, I was saying that, if you’re going to miss the bus, make sure you run when you miss it. So don’t be walking.

“And for us, whatever happens in this next game now, we have to go and give everything and make sure we’re running.

“If it doesn’t happen for us, we’ve given everything. And I thought we wasted 45 minutes tonight, which surprised me a little bit because up until that point of the season, we’ve been good.”

Well, the Celtic players did run but only for that opening ten-minute spell of the second half. As for Rodgers’ assertion that his team can win at Kairat?

That performance last night will inspire much confidence in a lot of the Celtic supporters that they can.