Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has reminded his team that patience is a virtue that could be key in their Europa League tie with Valencia.
Valencia have proved a tough nut to crack this season, losing less LaLiga games than Real Madrid and only losing twice in the Champions League – both against Juventus – despite finishing third in their group.
The Parkhead faithful will be roaring their favourites on when Celtic resume their European campaign on Thursday night but Rodgers wants his men to take lessons from their 2-1 win over RB Leipzig in the group stages.
"Patience is part of the game," Rodgers said on the club's official website.
"That's the understanding of the game. You're playing against good teams. Valencia have only lost four times all season in one of the biggest leagues in Europe.
"It's about respecting that the opponent is a good side.
"It's up to us to ensure we go and deliver a game and an intensity in our game that gives the supporters that hope.
"The Leipzig game was a wonderful demonstration of that, where we played really well in the game.
"We played ever so well but then got pegged back. They scored a goal that we could have defended better but then straight away we go and score.
"They're always tense games because there's so much on them but they're really enjoyable games.
"The players enjoy them, we as staff enjoy them and hopefully the supporters can enjoy them as well."
ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Press Association Sport staff');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', 'c0bfabf8-77e8-4472-ac3a-29898b3ac767');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Patience is key as Celtic take on Valencia \u2013 Brendan Rodgers'});
