Celtic fail to reach heights required in Champions League as draw leaves work to do

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Brendan Rodgers understands that Celtic must step up their game to secure a significant away victory against Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League.

The team at the top of the Premiership couldn't reach the level needed to earn more than a single point in a tough, scoreless battle in Croatia.

Celtic's points total stands at nine from 18 after they missed an opportunity to secure their first away victory in the group stage since defeating Anderlecht 3-0 in Brussels back in 2017, with two matches still to play.

The Hoops still have aspirations of making it to the knockout rounds and are highly favored to secure a win when they face Young Boys at Celtic Park in January, followed by their trip to Aston Villa for the last match of the group stage.

Rodgers shared with BBC Scotland, “Honestly, I believe we should have done more. It was a chance for us, but in those critical moments, we needed to put in a bit more effort.”

"On the bright side, we showed strong defensive skills throughout the match and managed to keep a clean sheet. However, I felt that we fell short in the quality of our play in the attacking zone. The condition of the pitch was somewhat challenging."

"We showed a lot of enthusiasm and strong dedication. In the Champions League, if you can keep a clean sheet and secure a point on the road, and you're not fully satisfied with that, it really highlights how much the team has improved."

After suffering a 7-1 defeat against Borussia Dortmund earlier in the tournament, Celtic has now achieved two consecutive clean sheets in away matches, having recently played to a 0-0 draw against Atalanta in Italy.

Rodgers stated, “It takes a lot of effort. While my teams are often known for their offensive style, we excel in pressing effectively at key times and maintaining a mindset focused on not allowing goals.”

"We managed to keep possession of the ball well enough to generate more scoring chances, but it's crucial to have a solid foundation as a team. This group is growing in confidence as they play together at this level. The players put in their full effort."

"We realized we needed to step up our game, and we recognize that. It's all good. We understand this was a chance for us, but it's important to demonstrate that extra effort."

Celtic's right-back Alistair Johnston sparked worries when he was substituted at halftime.

In reference to the Premier Sports Cup final against Rangers taking place at Hampden Park on Sunday, Rodgers mentioned, “It was related to his hip flexor, but fortunately, it’s not a muscle issue.”

"There was no reason to take a chance, and hopefully, things will calm down in the next few days."

Auston Trusty stated that Celtic might have come away with a win, but he still believes they can advance to the next round.

The 26-year-old defender from the USA, who joined from Sheffield United last summer, shared with TNT Sports: "We'll accept the draw, but our goal was to secure three points. I have a feeling there's going to be some frustration in the locker room."

"Securing a point while playing away from home is decent, but I believe we could have walked away with three. Our goal was to win, and unfortunately, things didn't turn out in our favor."

"I believe we can make better use of set-pieces. We had 10 of them during the match, which presented us with a chance to secure three points, but we ended up with just one."

The team delivered a strong performance. Our aim was to secure points on the road, and we successfully accomplished that.

"We're focused on our performance, and every chance we have, we're proving that we're a strong team deserving of our place here. We're capable of competing at this level. With two more matches left, we feel confident and just need to keep pushing forward."