Instead, although not explicitly stated, it was directed at Brendan Rodgers, who had a couple of nights earlier performed a midnight flit to Leicester City. You’ll remember the message because it was a classic of the genre and still holds it charge today. “You traded immortality for mediocrity,” Rodgers was told. “Never a Celt, always a fraud.”

It was a nightmare start for the Scottish Premiership champions as Brendan Rodgers watched his side crumble in the Villa Park cauldron. Morgan Rogers netted a quick-fire double inside five minutes to leave Celtic with an uphill battle against the Premier League side.

Celtic travel to Villa Park safe in the knowledge of progression to the knock-out round after beating Young Boys in their penultimate league phase game.

On losing the "iconic" Kyogo from his squad and [Daizen] Maeda being suspended, Rodgers concedes both have been key players, especially in Europe, but he believes he has the squad to cope without them, giving others a chance to step in.

Morgan Rogers hit a hat-trick and Ollie Watkins showed exactly why Arsenal want to sign him as Aston Villa went through to the last 16 of the Champions League after a thrilling win over Celtic.

Brendan Rodgers said was proud of Celtic's performance at Villa Park even though a 4-2 defeat condemned them to a play-off tie against one of the giants of European football.

Listen to Sportsound and follow live text updates of Celtic's final league phase fixture in the Champions League against Aston Villa.

Both Celtic and Villa can still still secure an automatic qualification spot, but results would have to fall favourably elsewhere for either to progress should they win.

Celtic and Aston Villa fans were seen in violent clashes ahead of last night's key Champions League fixture with pyrotechnics being thrown. On the park, Brendan Rodgers men put up a brave fight but ultimately lost the "Battle of Britain" fixture 4-2, with both sides progressing into the latter stages of the competition.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has spoke of his pride at "playing our part in a really good game". "It was a brilliant game to be involved in. The word that strikes me at the moment is pride.

Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa scores his team’s third goal past Kasper Schmeichel of Celtic during the UEFA Champions League match between Aston Villa and Celtic at Villa Park on January 29, 2025. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)