Brendan Rodgers is relieved that Celtic fans will be able to attend the second leg of their Champions League tie against Bayern Munich in Germany, as UEFA opted to fine the club €10,000 after a supporter threw a smoke bomb onto the pitch from the away end in their previous game against Aston Villa.
However, Rodgers has reminded the offending fans that the club still have a two-year suspended sentence hanging over them, and while the Celtic manager doubts that those who use pyrotechnics will heed that warning, he says it is imperative they do so in order to avoid a potential ban on fans travelling to away fixtures in future.
“I think we're all aware of that,” Rodgers said.
“I think it's still hanging over us. I hope that we can have that support, which the majority of supporters give, which is great.
“I'm not sure they're going to listen to me, if I'm honest. Whoever that may be. But let's hope.
(Image: David Davies - PA) "I think the game now as a whole - it's not just a small group of Celtic supporters, you see it throughout football - this element of ultras and all this sort of thing. We see it throughout Europe. It's not just solely Celtic supporters.
“But my only worry is for Celtic and our club so that we can maintain the status that we have, which is an amazing club with an amazing support base, and a club that supporters can travel anywhere in the world and always be welcomed and doors are always open for them. That's what we always want to have.
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“It gives us great strength on the pitch. We can follow the rules and not have any more fines or have anything come against the club.”
While sounding that note of caution, Rodgers couldn’t mask his delight that 3750 Celtic fans will be travelling with his side into the cauldron of the Allianz Arena, believing they are going to need their supporters behind them if they are to have any chance of prevailing against the German giants.
“It's great,” he said.
“That was the big worry for me when I spoke last week. I was concerned that they wouldn't be able to travel because they're such a massive part of this club. The support that we get and the passion that they have for the game, that really drives us and helps us.
“So, to have them there, it's going to be great, and we'll need them.
“It's just sheer passion. The supporters are everything for this club. What they give to the team is what makes it. I've said it many times before.
“The support, whether financially or emotionally, what supporters give to Celtic is what makes Celtic what it is. So, to have the support there with us always makes a huge difference.
“We see it domestically. We see it when we travel. At Villa Park, I think the young player, Morgan Rodgers, said he'd never seen the away end like that in any game.
(Image: PA)
“So, that obviously makes me very proud as a manager of the club. It's not a surprise when you're Celtic minded.
“But we just want to make sure that there are no barriers in the way for us to play and have that support so that we can play the very best we can.
“People are obviously travelling. They need to organise as well. So, there are many reasons why it's good that the news has come out now.
“There was talk around we might not know until after the first game, which wouldn't have been ideal. So, it's really good news for everyone and then, we’re just concentrating on football.”
