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Brendan Rodgers' Champions League gamble paid off for Celtic, says Andy Walker

Brendan Rodgers made good substitutions which had a telling impact on a good Celtic victory, says Andy Walker
Image: Brendan Rodgers made good substitutions which had a telling impact on a good Celtic victory, says Andy Walker

What a remarkable night of drama and tension at Celtic Park in the first leg of the final Champions League qualifying tie ahead of the group stages.

The banner in the corner of the stadium before kick-off turned out to be very prophetic. "Let's go all in" was the message from the Celtic supporters with a mosaic of Brendan Rodgers in front of a pile of casino chips. 

Gambling is what managers do all the time and last night, in what is always the biggest game of the season, that's exactly what the new Celtic manager did as his team won 5-2.

After a pulsating first 45 minutes, a three-goal lead at half-time was thoroughly deserved for the home side but there were shades of the Ronny Deila era as the Israelis came back to score two goals in quick succession early in the second half.

Make no mistake, if Deila was still in charge of this Celtic team, Scotland's champions would not be holding a three-goal advantage going into the second leg.

Celtic fans show a display reading 'Let's go all in' before the start of the game against Hapoel Be'er Sheva
Image: Celtic fans show a display reading "Let's go all in" before the start of the game against Hapoel Be'er Sheva

This was the time for the manager to make a big call, a considered play. Do you stick with a 3-2 lead knowing the game has turned on its head with thousands in the stadium fearful of conceding another?

Or do you gamble and throw on another striker and midfield player to swing the momentum back your way in the first leg of a tie which, if successful, could bring in £20million?

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In the best traditions of exciting and attack-minded Celtic managers, Rodgers took a chance his men could show the strength, character and resilience to get back into a game which was ebbing away from them - and his adventurous play proved to be the right call.

Moussa Dembele scored Celtic's fourth goal in their 5-2 win over Hapoel Be'er Sheva
Image: Moussa Dembele scored Celtic's fourth goal in their 5-2 win over Hapoel Be'er Sheva

Moussa Dembele scored a vital goal, set up another chance which was almost tucked away by Scott Sinclair and was involved in the hugely important fifth goal from Scott Brown which puts an entirely different complexion on the scoreline. Nir Bitton was an essential introduction too as he brought an element of calm to the midfield area which was badly needed. 

It has to be said not every calculated risk taken by a manager with his substitutions pays off but this was one worth taking.

Dembele's confidence is high after breaking his scoring duck in the last couple of weeks and Bitton was very keen to show a team from his own country how calm and confident he can be under pressure.

Both substitutes made a significant contribution to the final scoreline and I would back any team with a three-goal lead to get through the second leg. Celtic's dream is almost complete. 

Andy Walker believes Nir Bitton brought calmness and composure to Celtic's midfield at a crucial time
Image: Walker believes Nir Bitton brought calmness and composure to Celtic's midfield at a crucial time

Champions League football means everything to the Celtic supporters. It gives them a chance to show the rest of Europe how much vocal backing they can give their team and, in my view, nowhere else can come close to matching the atmosphere that's generated on a European night at Celtic Park under the floodlights. 

If, as now seems likely, Celtic make it through to join the continent's elite, Rodgers' gamble could rake in anything upwards of £20million. Maybe that's what you get when you invest in a genuine manager and allow him to spend serious money - in Scottish terms - to excite the fans again.

Celtic manager Ronny Deila
Image: Walker says Celtic's senior players did not take their former manager Ronny Deila seriously

Last night's drama underlined for me just how calamitous the Celtic board's gamble was in appointing Deila two years ago. The senior players didn't take him seriously, Champions League experience for both the players and fans was lost and the money to go with it was thrown away.

It took a Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Rangers to give Dermot Desmond, the Celtic majority shareholder, the fright he needed to gamble much more sensibly in appointing a manager the players immediately respected. More importantly, the fans bought into the appointment instantly and ploughed their cash into generating a huge increase in season ticket sales. 

Rangers players celebrate their penalty shoot-out win over Celtic
Image: Walker thinks losing to Rangers last season inspired them to invest in Brendan Rodgers' appointment

Let me be the first to say that of course there is still a big job to be completed next week in Israel but, in gambling terms, Celtic are odds on to be back in Europe's premier club competition.

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