Celtic: Brendan Rodgers won’t change Champions League approach despite Dortmund rout

With the Westfalenstadion clock ticking towards minute 82 and the scoreboard at 7-1, every Celtic player was in the Dortmund half as the ball turned over.

It resulted in the relentless home side racing clear with ease again, but only Schmeichel’s boot prevented an eighth.

Actions like that give fuel to the criticism of naivety that will come Rodgers’ way.

Across the Celtic manager’s two spells, there’s been a 7-0 defeat at Barcelona, 5-0 at home to Paris St-Germain, plus another 7-1 in the away game in France and six shipped at Atletico Madrid last term.

The Celtic boss is the only coach to watch his team concede seven goals in a Champions League game more than once. Tuesday was the third occasion.

And with a trip to last season’s Europa League winners Atalanta to come next, the Scottish champions risk being run ragged again against another high-octane side who thrive off their man-to-man approach.

“Atalanta will be a totally different test,” former Scotland forward James McFadden said on Sportsound.

“They are so aggressive in their press, they will be relentless. Celtic will have to be so much better.”

Ex-Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner added: “If you look at the way Celtic play in the league, they will try to win the ball high up the pitch. That mentality is in the players. It was proven tonight they can’t do that against top teams.

“These teams can take four or five players out of the game with two or three passes, then they are getting at your back four.

“You have to come up with a different plan or structure to stay in the game.”