Brugge boss Hayen expects ‘open’ game against ‘quite complete’ Celtic

Club Brugge boss Nicky Hayen says British football might be known for a “kick and rush” style, but that is not what he expects from Celtic in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Hayen is a fan of opposite number Brendan Rodgers’ possession-based game and is expecting a difficult but exciting match at Parkhead. A win for either side would go a long way to sealing progression in the competition.

“You see that he’s a coach who really wants to play football, even from the back,” Hayen said of Rodgers.

“He wants to invite pressure and always tries to find the right solution. He has the players to go deep, with deep runs from their attackers in the second line. Celtic are quite complete as a team but also as individual players.

“You see Brendan’s hand in it all. You could say that British football is more ‘kick and rush’ but here at Celtic you never see it. It’s always a clean build-up from the back and that’s exactly what a coach wants.”

In his own pre-match press conference, Rodgers spoke about harnessing “the power of Celtic Park”.

Hayen has told his side to “embrace” the frenzied Parkhead atmosphere.

“I heard from people that the expectations here are really big and that the atmosphere will be crazy and that they are waiting for us,” he said.

“These are the games you want to play as a player and we just have to stay calm, embrace all these feelings and just perform on the pitch.

“I don’t think it will be a really closed game. It will be open and let’s hope it will be an exciting evening.”