BRENDAN Rodgers has drawn a line under Celtic’s 7-0 defeat by Barcelona at the Nou Camp on Tuesday night.
The Hoops were on a high after thrashing Rangers 5-1 at Parkhead in the Ladbrokes Premiership last Saturday before flying out for their Champions League Group C opener against the Catalan superstars.
It was a “humbling” night for the Scottish champions as they were given a chasing but Rodgers moved quickly to banish the Barca blues and get morale back up ahead of the trip to Inverness tomorrow.
He said: “For us there is no leftover feeling from the other night.
“It is important that as a coach and a manager you intervene because if you leave it, it maybe can continue.
“But the first morning we were back in, we were able to reflect on it and that is your lever to move on.
“You have to (draw a line under it), you have to assess it and analyse it where you can be better.
“But at the same token you have to analyse the game before, the Rangers game was very important.
“So the last couple of days in terms of management perspective, it is just about stabilising that emotion of the week.
“The players have been absolutely outstanding since I came in here and we were given some harsh lessons in the Nou Camp against arguably the world’s best ever team.
“It was a very humbling experience but you have to learn from the experience.
“The players reflected on the two games, what we can take from them and how we can keep pushing forward as we have been and just ensure you are better the next time you play in these types of games.
“The boys are back smiling and working again and looking forward to the next challenge.”
Celtic midfielder Stuart Armstrong claims the highs and lows he has experienced this week is part of a footballer’s life.
The 24-year-old came on as a substitute against Rangers last weekend and scored the final goal in the 5-1 win.
Armstrong started on the bench against Barcelona and was thrown on again after the break but this time the Parkhead side were struggling.
He said: “Obviously to have the elation of Saturday and what a huge game it was for us, the club and the fans and broadening that gap at the top of the league so it was so important that we won and we won well.
“I thought we were quality from start to finish and Tuesday night was quite a contrast. Two complete different scenarios.
“Obviously we were winning when I came on Saturday and adding the goal was huge for me personally and Tuesday was completely different, coming on at 5-0 down trying to shore things up.
“But that is professional football, different situations every week.
“Obviously when you are 5-0 down it is a difficult situation but you want to help your team-mates and having the experience of playing at the Nou Camp is one I will never forget.
“We play football to play these big games and that is what you want to be involved in.”
The former Dundee United midfielder is looking to take out any frustrations against Inverness where Celtic will look to make it five wins out of five in the league.
He said: “A trip away to Inverness is a different atmosphere to the last two games we have played but we have been ruthless in the league so far this season and we want to continue being so.
“It is vital that we get the three points and everyone is willing for that to happen.”
