Valencia host Celtic on Thursday in second leg
Tuesday 19 February 2019 16:32, UK
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers insists the Europa League last-32 tie with Valencia is not over yet.
His team trail 2-0 from the first leg last week as they aim to move through to the last 16 of the Europa League and Rodgers has pinpointed what could be the catalyst for a comeback.
"The first goal in this game will be important," Rodgers told Celtic's official website.
"If we can get the first goal in the game, we don't need to go flying in after that. We just need to settle ourselves into the game and find our confidence."
The Hoops were outclassed in the home game last Thursday but the manager hopes a different approach could yield success.
He said: "We have to go there with the belief and confidence that we can get a result. No matter how tough, we'll go there and if we can get the first goal it can open things up for us."
Valencia sit ninth in La Liga having won just three home games in the league this season but have drawn nine and lost once.
They dropped down to the Europa League from the Champions League after failing to get out of a group that contained Manchester United and Juventus.
Rodgers added: "We know it's going to be a tough game. You can see the level that they're at and the investment, everything is there to see that they're an outstanding team."
Valencia have not conceded in their last three home games and only Juventus have scored more than one away goal at the Mestalla this season in the Champions League or La Liga.
