Brendan Rodgers: "The first goal will be important"

Celtic coach Brendan Rodgers will visit Mestalla for the first time as a senior coach on Thursday night, when he takes charge of his side in the second leg of the UEFA Europa League Round of 32 fixture against Valencia CF. He talked in a Wednesday press conference before the game.

“I was here for a few weeks when obtaining my coaching badges (at the Ciudad Deportiva) and I have great friends here. Marcelino is a fantastic coach, Valencia CF are very well organised, they are very compact and they will probably make few mistakes. They are very fast on the counter," he explained.

"I know the history of Valencia CF and it's fantastic. They are a very good football team, so we know what the challenge ahead for us is. It will be important to be very focused defensively and not make mistakes, because we know that they will punish them by creating opportunities. We have to be strong and aggressive and we can't gift them chances. The first goal will be important."

Rodgers was part of the coaching staff of the Chelsea side that beat Valencia CF 1-2 in the Champions League group stage in October 2007, but now heads the dugout at Mestalla for the first occasion.