Brendan Rodgers cut a frustrated figure after watching his Celtic side undone by a costly lapse against Bayern Munich at Parkhead.
Harry Kane, the man he warned his players never to leave free, was given just enough room to strike—and he did, delivering Bayern’s second in their 2-1 victory.
Rodgers revealed his message in the dressing room was blunt. “From corners and set-pieces we’d been strong, but the one player you can’t allow to drift free is maybe the best striker in the world,” he said afterwards.
The timing of the blow only deepened Celtic’s pain. Having conceded just before the break, they switched off again four minutes into the second half.
A simple corner found Kane ghosting to the back post, unmarked, and the Englishman finished with ruthless precision to double Bayern’s lead.
Rodgers acknowledged the quality of Kane’s strike but was furious at the freedom Celtic’s defence allowed him. “Harry takes it brilliantly, but we gave him the space. At 2-0, we were chasing,” he admitted.
Celtic did respond. Rodgers’ substitutions injected urgency, and for the final 25 minutes the hosts pushed Bayern onto the back foot.
Their persistence was rewarded when Daizen Maeda struck late, sparking belief inside Parkhead. But the earlier lapse left them with too much to do.
The challenge now shifts to Germany. Celtic must show greater concentration at the Allianz Arena if they are to overturn the deficit.
Rodgers knows chances against Bayern will be rare—and any repeat of their defensive errors could be fatal to their Champions League hopes.