Celtic’s win over Young Boys in the Champions League on Wednesday evening was built on a solid defensive display.
Brendan Rodgers was pleased to see the Hoops through to the knockout playoffs with three points following the 1-0 win in Glasgow.
There remains a top eight chance for Celts albeit a slim one, but Rodgers refused to get carried away with a difficult tie still to come against Unai Emery’s Aston Villa on matchday eight.
If the Scottish giants are to stand a chance down south next week against the Premier League outfit, Rodgers will need his defenders to, again, be at their best to stand up to the pressure.
And the manager reckons his two centre-halves in particular were superb in the YB victory as he singled them both out for praise.
Cameron Carter-Vickers has been a rock for Celtic at the heart of the back four since he arrived from Tottenham while Auston Trusty has taken some time to settle after arriving in the summer.
Trusty was actually criticised by Rodgers for his “weak” defending against Dundee where he shipped two goals in the 3-3 Premiership draw.
Rodgers singled out Celtic’s Trusty and Carter-Vickers vs YB
Yet after the win on Wednesday, the manager acknowledged his accusations against Trusty as a motivational tool for the American to take on board.
“I thought the two boys were colossal, really,” the Irishman said of the duo.
“You know you have to defend well at this level and that’s why the other day you have to give a little poke to your centre-halves because you know what you’re gonna come into.
“I think Auston was outstanding as was Cam so, for the American audience, they were very very good.”
One journalist asked about the pair’s chances of playing together for the US national team in the future.
And Rodgers was asked if he’d had an opportunity to speak with their manager, Mauricio Pochettino, about the players.
Trusty and Carter-Vickers’ USA chances addressed by Rodgers
While that chat has not yet taken place, the Celtic manager is adamant they can play for their country as they’ve shown up well in the Champions League.
That should certainly translate from one major competition to others.
“I haven’t spoken to Mauricio but his assistant was with me. He came and we had a good chat, he’s going through the guys and their qualities.
“If you’re playing in the very highest level of European football, those two guys can play at international level.
“They rate the two guys really highly and you can see they both work well together. Pace, power, strength and they keep clean sheets. Very good.”
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