Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has charged his team to claim maximum points when they face Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.
The Scottish Champions have won twice in Europe this season with both victories coming at home but are yet to win an away game in Champions League since defeating Anderlecht in September 2017 and the 51-year old manager sees an away win as long overdue.
“I think it’s one we’ve been building towards in performance level and results”, Rodgers explained.
“This year we’ve been fairly consistent. To win away from home (would be great), because you know what it means to supporters as well as the points.”
Celtic suffered an embarrassing 7-1 defeat in their first away match of the season at Borussia Dortmund but were much better in their second game away from the Celtic Park as they held Serie A leaders Atalanta to a goalless draw in Bergamo.
“You go to Atalanta and you defend how we did there, that gives you a bit confidence”, he continued.
“To know you can go into any stadium and defend well and for us, we hope that we can then bring our attacking game alongside that, and we know that when we do that it, it gives us an opportunity to get that win.”
The Hoops know a victory at the Maksimir stadium in Zagreb will boost their chances of reaching the knockout stages of the competition for the first time since the 2012/13 season.
“You know that an away win at any level, but in particular the Champions League, it’s a difficult challenge, but it’s one that gives a real good feeling. So for us, it’s the next step.”
Brendan Rodgers will hope his side take advantage of their opponent’s dismal form to claim a first away victory in the Champions League in seven years.
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