Brendan Rodgers issues a Celtic red card warning ahead of their match against Lazio in a bid to keep their European hopes alive.

Brendan Rodgers issues a red card warning to Celtic.

The Hoops have only taken one point from their four Champions League matches so far and must win at the Stadio Olimpico while hoping Feyenoord do not defeat Atletico Madrid.

Brendan Rodgers has warned his Celtic players that they must avoid turning red against Lazio if they are to keep their European hopes alive after Christmas.

The Hoops have only taken one point from their four Champions League matches so far and need to win at the Stadio Olimpico while also hoping Feyenoord do not defeat Atletico Madrid in order to go into their final match against the Dutch side with a chance of progressing to European knockout football.

Celtic’s cause has been hampered by the fact that three players have been sent off in their two away games: Gustaf Lagerbielke and Odin Thiago Holm in the 2-0 loss in Rotterdam, and Daizen Maeda in the first half of their 6-0 thrashing in Madrid. Rodgers is adamant that such indiscipline will not be repeated in Rome.

“What is important for us is making sure we have 11 men on the field,” he said. In our two away games we’ve been down to nine men and then 10 men.

“At this level, that’s a big ask. For us, it’s about keeping our players on the field, playing the level of football that we know we can and have shown, and hopefully we get our breaks in the game.

“I think we learned that over the course of the competition, against Lazio and the other teams, that we can really compete when we are 11 vs 11.”

Celtic haven’t won a Champions League away game since beating Anderlecht 3-0 more than six years ago, but Rodgers is confident his team can get the win they need in the Italian capital.

“We have two games left, we know what we have to do,” he added. We’re going to give it everything to achieve the victories we need.

“I’m excited by it, I’m really looking forward to seeing us play. I think we can get the result that we want but we know we have to work very, very hard.

“You play football to play in the best stadiums, in the best atmospheres. When I was here before, the atmosphere was amazing and I expect it to be the same this time.

“It’s a really iconic stadium. You always expect the supporters to get behind the home team. I always say the louder the opponents cheer, the harder we run, so hopefully we run very hard.”

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