Brendan Rodgers admits Celtic need a result against Atletico Madrid to keep their European hopes alive. they are bottom of Champions League Group E after losses against Lazio and Feyenoord

Brendan Rodgers wants his Celtic players to learn from adversity as he insists they “don’t have to be the best team in the world” to beat Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

They host the Spanish side in Group E and are looking to bounce back from their own a late home loss to Lazio in their last match.

Atletico and Lazio top Champions League Group E with four points, a point above Feyenoord, with the Hoops still looking for their first point.

Atletico are fourth in LaLiga, three points off first place.

“It’s a fantastic team to play against one of the best in the world, but we don’t have to be the best team in the world to win,” Rodgers said.

“We just need to build up the pressure, play well and you have to pick up some luck as well.

“Hopefully everything combined with the supporters we can have a great night and we will certainly give everything to get the result we want.”

The goal after the break saw Celtic lose 2-1 to Lazio earlier this month in a game Rodgers believed they should have won.

He wants his players to use the pain of this defeat to spur them on as they look to stay in with a chance of securing European football after Christmas.

“Adversity is one of the best lessons you have,” added Rodgers, who is unbeaten in the Scottish Premiership since returning to Celtic.

“The pain [defeat] it was numbing because we didn’t feel like we deserved it.

“I am not here to condole after losing football matches but I respect the level we are at and it is up to us to try and see if we can be more progressive in our results to move forward.

“I think it’s important for us, if we want to progress in any of the competitions, we have to accept something, otherwise it’s an extremely difficult challenge for us.”

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