Brendan Rodgers receives ringing endorsement over Celtic methods as Atalanta genius tells cynics it's the only way

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Italian master Gian Piero Gasperini reckons Brendan Rodgers is right to stick to his attacking guns.

The Atalanta boss has ripped up the famous old Serie A defensive approach to turn his side into the most attacking team in Italy. Gasperini is an admirer of the Rodgers philosophy as well – and he doesn’t believe the Hoops gaffer will rip up his strategy on the back of the Borussia Dortmund bashing for tomorrow/tonight’s Champions League clash. The wily old coach is convinced Celtic will have learned from their Germany gubbing – just like his men did from thumping from Premier League big guns like Liverpool and Man City.

But the 66 -year-old doesn’t believe Rodgers should bin his beliefs. The Europa League winner said: “Rodgers is a very attacking coach. If you're a team that wins a lot, you have to attack. They have to be balanced. In Italy, we say the best teams are the ones that have the best defence. But if I look at the numbers, it's actually the teams that also score a lot of goals. If you want to win, it's obvious you have to score. He coaches a top team, the leading side in Scotland.

(Image: Getty Images)

“As for the Champions League, it's obvious, as I've said before, there's a lot of top teams. And it's the characteristic of each coach, each team. When we played Liverpool at home, we conceded five goals for the first time. Another time, five goals against Manchester City. But we learned from those experiences. We then picked up draws and then eventually went on to win those kinds of games.

“You can never turn down and ignore your spirit, your style. You have to be true to that. There's phases in which you grow as a result of that. There is no obvious solution. You have to win. The Champions League is obviously at times exclusive to some of the top, top teams. As for our type of club, we never want to alter our approach, change our approach, but stick to our beliefs.”

Gasperini insisted he won’t underestimate Celts – and their lightning quick attack. Celts bashed five past Slovan Bratislava in the opening group game and averaged three goals a game in Scotland. Gasperini knows where the threats will come from and he said: “You need to be careful, when we're talking about the Champions League, because there's some top teams, whereas against the top team, if you perhaps get your approach wrong, you can concede a lot of goals. We've seen these kinds of contrasting results, so far as a result.

“So we will be taking into account the past two matches, but all the other games, such as the ones in the league as well. Atalanta would never underestimate an opponent. Celtic, especially in attack, a very dangerous side, very fast, rapid team. The entire attack certainly is of concern. They have obviously their attacking players but also the midfielders join in as well with the attack. Wanting to be at our very best, very attentive. Their rapidity and their ability to always score lots of goals.

“Celtic always tend to score and get into scoring positions. They're used to winning, and they're used to winning well. We need to be at our very best, and we have to try and of course win the game. We need to be very attentive, if we want to win this game. And to do so, we'll have to put in a very good performance.

“I hope that it's a nice game of football, open brand of football as they should always be in football. Of course there's always a competitive side to it, within the rules of the game of course. We're used to taking on teams with these characteristics, it's going to be an open game I think.”

Rodgers described Atalanta as the best man marking side on the planet – but Gasperini warned his outfit are so much more. He said: “I don't know man-marking. I know marking. Marking or cover or positional play. The fact that Atalanta is considered is something that makes me very happy. I think we are more than that though, obviously. It's an opinion that I accept.”

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