The former Liverpool boss will visit Camp Nou on Tuesday
Once upon a time, Brendan Rodgers coached Luis Suárez in one of the most memorable seasons in recent Liverpool history, but now Rodgers will have to face the world's best striker and the world's best football team.
Rodgers' Celtic visit Camp Nou on Tuesday for the Champions League group stage opener against Barcelona, and the former Liverpool boss is not looking forward to an easy game. Even though the Catalans lost to newly promoted La Liga side Alavés last weekend, they are still one great team, and that disappointing loss might serve as motivation for the Blaugrana to run over Celtic and prove how good they are.
That is what Rodgers is expecting on Tuesday, but he is not afraid of Barça and hopes to get a positive result at Camp Nou.
"We face a front three which is one of best of all time. And Barça are, possibly, the best team in the world. When he played for me [at Liverpool], Luis Suárez used to occupy a back four all on his own. If you add Messi and Neymar in this and you've got a handful to face! But we aren't here to be passengers. We are here to get the result.
"A defeat like Barcelona suffered at the weekend can sometimes awaken a team. Alavés defended very, very well but with the possession they had they made chances. You can have all the tactical systems in the world and park two double-decker buses in front of the goal but the best players will always find space. A lot of people seem to think this is a 'free' game for Celtic. But not for me."
Source: UEFA.com
Rodgers also talked about his relationship with Luis Suárez. The two worked together in Liverpool's magical season in the Premier League three years ago, when the Reds shocked England and nearly won the top flight playing beautiful football, scoring loads of goals and having the Uruguayan as one of the top players in the world that season.
The Celtic manager still remembers that season, and he had plenty of praise for Suárez, who is the world's best striker in Rodgers' mind. But it's not just the football qualities that make Luis a special character, according to the manager, and he has no idea of what to do to stop Suárez on Tuesday.
"At this moment in time, Luis is the best striker in the world, I don't think there's any question about that.
"First of all, when you speak about Luis Suarez, you have to speak about the man. Luis Suarez is one of the most beautiful men you could come across. He's a very humble guy who works tirelessly at his profession. He's super-professional and a family man who gives everything for life as a footballer and for his family. I had the pleasure of working with Luis as a human being for two years and he was incredible.
"As a footballer, I think he's the best in the world. The biggest compliment that you could give Luis is that he came to an already world-class team and he made them better. When I see them play now, Barcelona would not be the same team without Luis Suarez.
"To stop him is very, very difficult. Like all world-class players that you face, they always find the space. You can have all the tactical ideas, you can set up systems, you can park two double-decker buses in front of the goal, I think that some of the best players in the world will always find space.
"What you have to try to do is negate that and be as aggressive as you can in order to stop him - and that's something that we will try to do."
Source: FourFourTwo
Maybe Brendan Rodgers hopes Suárez is nice to him and doesn't tear his defense apart.
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