Celtic hold their destiny in their own hands tomorrow night as they take on YB Bern in the UEFA Champions League with the Hoops on the brink of possible progress to the next stage of the competition. With two games left in this group stage, the Celts can make a statement of intent on their own hallowed turf against the Swiss champions. A win would be a massive step towards confirming renewed participation in world football’s premier club competition, and that is something that Hoops manager, Brendan Rodgers is aiming for. The Irishman said ahead of the match: “We want to win the game. It’s a game we’re really excited about. “The Champions League story in the main so far has been really good for us, especially at home, so we’re excited about the challenge of the game and looking forward to it. “It’s a great position for us to be in. When we started this journey we wanted to show that we can compete at this level and can go and make the next steps, and get into the play-off stage. ‘So, we’ve been able to get ourselves into a really good position with nine points, and our home form at the level has been really good, but we have that opportunity now to take a big step to get to the play-off.’ “The players are aware of it, they’re not blind to it. They understand the magnitude of the game, but they also understand it’s about performing. “I think that’s key. The key in this game here is that you play the game and not the occasion. “The occasion’s absolutely massive for us, but we can only get to where we want to get to by playing to the levels that we’ve played at, especially at home. “So that’s through our focus, and focusing on our performance, and that’s what we’ve talked about over the last few days.”To many the game has taken on the mantle of a cup final, and the manager and the players are looking forward to experiencing Celtic Park’s acknowledged status as one of the best venues in football when it comes to European nights – a cup final with everything except a trophy presentation. The manager said: “I think it’s what make Celtic Park so special. Many teams will tell you about their stadiums and that special atmosphere, but this really is a stadium that is iconic with the atmosphere. “It’s hard to analyse that and look at that, but it’s just how it feels. “I think a night game here in the Champions League gives us a real connection with the past and the great story that this club has with this competition many years ago and it’s what the culture and the history of this club has been set on. “A club that won the European Cup at that time, playing the most amazing football through that sequence of games – and that’s what creates your culture and your history, and that’s what we live to replicate each and every season we play. “So our feeling going into this game is to have that synergy, because it’s so important because that’s what the founding values of this club have been about, the connection, the people together. “So if we get that tomorrow night, and we’ve seen it already this season, it’s the most amazing place to be in and that’s what we want to have tomorrow.” Watch the full video to hear the manager on: YB Bern What European progress would mean to him Squad availability Maturity of the team Previous European games this season Heavy fixture schedule Team respected by fans at this level More on the game Callum McGregor: We want to carry the crowd with us –
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