Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has hailed both the players and supporters after his team secured a 2-1 Europa League triumph over RB Leipzig in midweek. The Hoops had come into the game with just three points from their opening three group stage games but they managed to maintain their knockout prospects after clinching a rather surprise win over the Bundesliga heavyweights.

Speaking after the game, Rodgers described the victory as a ‘fantastic one’ given his team had previously struggled to overcome any elite European club under his management. He added to praise the atmosphere around Parkhead which pushed the team forward in their quest to secure maximum points.

He said:”It was a fantastic victory and one that I’m very proud of. I think tonight was a proper win for us against a top-class side sitting high in their domestic league and everybody knows Leipzig’s quality. The most important thing was to win and win well and I think we did that. The players were absolutely brilliant. And then the supporters were absolutely magnificent. It is always a very emotional game here at Celtic Park, but that synergy between both got us the result and it was a fantastic three points for us.”

With the victory, Celtic have the same number of points (six) as Leipzig but they are currently only occupying the third position after failing to match Leizpig’s 2-0 triumph during the reverse fixture. Meanwhile, Red Bull Salzburg are flying high with a six-point advantage over both Celtic and Leipzig and the Hoops’ progress into the round of 32 may depend on whether Leipzig drop points from the remaining two matches where they would unquestionably have to capitalise.

Meanwhile, Celtic are currently second in the Scottish Premiership with a three-point deficit to Hearts but they can catch the table-toppers when they contest them during the weekend. Rodgers’ team currently have an additional game left to play when compared to the league leaders.