Brendan Rodgers ’emotional’ when visiting the scene of Celtic’s greatest triumph

An “emotional” Brendan Rodgers admitted he was lost for words after visiting the scene of Celtic’s greatest triumph.

The Celtic manager took his players and staff to the Estadio Nacional in Lisbon, where they became the first British club to lift the European Cup following a 2-1 victory over Inter Milan in 1967.

Celtic are in the Portuguese capital to take on Sporting in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday and their training camp is across the road from the place where the Lisbon Lions earned their name.

Rodgers told Celtic TV: “There’s very few times where I’d be lost for words, but today’s really about a feeling and just the feeling in the tunnel…. When you grow up as a Celtic supporter, you know all the stories, you know Bertie (Auld) singing in the tunnel and the support that came here.

“But just to actually walk the journey and relive some of those memories and just coming out of the tunnel was very emotional because you sensed, as a manager from a sporting perspective, at that time of the year as well, how hot it was.

“Just to come up the tunnel to then see all the Celtic supporters and then we make our way up to here where big Billy (McNeill) lifted the trophy, and knowing the thousands of Celtic supporters were down there watching.

“So it’s a feeling and being brought up with the stories and understanding that that night changed the whole direction of the club, and to be stood here as a Celtic manager for my first time here, it’s really special and really emotional.”

Celtic captain Callum McGregor was also touched by the experience of following in his predecessor’s footsteps.

“So, so lucky to even be here, to represent this club and to be at a stadium which is so iconic in our history,” he said.

“And to stand where Billy stood just brings into focus, one, how amazing an achievement it was and, two, just trying to get a sense of what it would have felt like and looking out and just seeing a sea of green and white Celtic supporters.

“I’m so, so, so lucky to be a part of this club and on days like this you feel the enormity of it and very, very lucky and blessed.”