Brendan Rodgers won’t get too hung up after being left hanging for a handshake from Diego Simeone.
And the Celtic boss won’t get too worked up over the Champions League pat on the back either. Rodgers is more concerned about how his team are handling themselves on the big stage – and the fact they ate getting to grips with the level.
It was perhaps a sign of how the other night went that Atletico Madrid man in black Simeone was too wrapped up in fist pump celebrations after the Parkhead draw to notice his opposite number waiting around.
Rodgers took it as a backhanded compliment as his side had the Spaniards rattled.
The Hoops gaffer said: “In this country we’re very much around respect. You always hold out your hand. I know abroad they’re not so keen on it and they do their own thing. It doesn’t worry me.
We probably surprised Atletico Madrid with our genuine quality and intensity so afterwards they would have gone back home and sat on the plane saying we were a good side.
He’s a fantastic manager and he’s done great things with them so it doesn’t matter to me.”
In fairness, Simeone didn’t hold back with his praise of the Parkhead men afterwards – and neither did the pundits.
One European broadcaster claimed Celtic have played some of the best stuff by ANY Champions League side this season after being left stunned by the quality of the Hoops opening goal in Wednesday’s 2-2 thriller.
Rodgers doesn’t care much for platitudes when his side hasn’t won. But he does believe it was further evidence his men are heading in the right direction – even if the points tally doesn’t show the progress. Rodgers said:
“I hate the condolences after you play well and lose or you don’t get the result.
But you always have to look at performance, and when you are performing at the level we were at against a team that will have a genuine feeling they can have a chance in the competition, then it’s a great testament to the bravery and courage of the players and how well they’ve performed.
So, I take my hat off, it’s consistency and growth, that’s what we want to see.
That’s the combination, that’s what the force of Celtic is. The process for me is about remembering what Celtic used to be at the Champions League level.
I know where the Champions League has gone, but for us to get back to being a team that can be feared on the pitch as well as off the pitch, that’s the reality. I think we can see the beginnings of that with this group.
“You can’t just attack well at this level and be fast and dynamic. You’ve got to be compact and tight and aggressive, and be able to cope with different situations within the game. I’ve been really pleased by that aspect within the team.”
That’s the combination, that’s what the force of Celtic is. The process for me is about remembering what Celtic Controversial Simeone Catches Attention As Brendan Rogers Says It’s All About Respectused to be at the Champions League level.
I know where the Champions League has gone, but for us to get back to being a team that can be feared on the pitch as well as off the pitch, that’s the reality. I think we can see the beginnings of that with this group.
“You can’t just attack well at this level and be fast and dynamic. You’ve got to be compact and tight and aggressive, and be able to cope with different situations within the game. I’ve been really pleased by that aspect within the team.”
The Champions League buzz is still around Celtic but Rodgers will quickly snap back to domestic matters.
It’s been a tough run of fixtures with games coming thick and fast – but the manager has no doubt his squad can cope.
It’s imperative that that’s our idea, we want to impose our game on the opposition as early as we can and create problems for the opposition as early as we can. So there’s no change in our mentality.”
Rodgers isn’t banking on Hibs having any scar tissue from last weekend’s thumping against Rangers.
He’s watched enough of the Easter Road side to know they pose a threat and he admires the attacking attitude new boss Nick Montgomery has brought in.
Rodgers also had his fair share of tests in Leith in his first spell at Celtic and is expecting another challenging trip.
He said: “I really like what Nick’s trying to do. I really like that they’re trying to build the game from behind, work their way through the lines with speed, with quality and looking to play an attacking game.
It’s the tradition of Hibs as a club. They’ve always been a club that plays good football going back to the managers that have been there before, and he’s come in looking to implement his ideas into the club and the team as well.
They’ve had some really good performances so it’s a tough game for us.”