BRENDAN RODGERS insisted Kelechi Iheanacho’s fine finish got Celtic’s Europa League glory bid off to a good start.
Supersub Iheanacho was thrown on for Daizen Maeda at the break and fired the Hoops ahead against Red Star in Belgrade.
Veteran Marko Arnautovic rescued a point for the Serbs in the opening league phase game – but Hoops boss Rodgers hailed his ex-Leicester frontman.
He said: “We’ve come here to face a team which has won all its domestic games – seven out of seven – and it’s a tough game.
“We had opportunities in the second half in particular but we showed great resilience and showed moments of quality.
“Kels’ goal was absolutely outstanding. We had other moments in the second half but I still want us to be a bit more pro-active in the game.
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“Overall, it was a nice first step for us in the competition.”
Rodgers hooked reigning Player of the Year Maeda – who hit 33 goals last season – to make way for Nigerian ace Iheanacho at the interval.
He explained: “We needed someone centrally to hold the ball up.
“I felt we arrived in the final third in the first half but were loose with the ball.
“It’s one of Kels’ great strengths. He can take the ball in, use his body well and it allows us to progress up the pitch.
“He gave us a really good platform in the second half.”
Maeda revealed during this month’s international break that Celts had blocked a summer exit – but Rodgers insists he remains a key figure.
The boss added: “He wasn’t at his best, or nowhere near it, however he’s a good guy. Sometimes that happens in the game.
“I could have made a couple of changes at half-time. I wanted to make that one to give us a greater reference at the top of the pitch.
“I thought Kels came in and was very, very good for us.”
On Celts’ ambitions in the Europa League, Rodgers said: “There needs to be a bit of realism. We are where we are.
“This is a good point. You’re not going to go and win all eight games.
“This is a good point for this squad of players. Now we have two home games to go and push forward.
“There will always be criticism but if you come to Belgrade and get a point from a team which has won seven out of seven, we can only focus on what we can do ourselves.”
Teenage right-back Colby Donovan said: “It was brilliant to get the start in a big game.
“To get the point over here, I’m just over the moon.
“When I found out I was starting, I was a bit nervous. But when I heard the first whistle, it was time to work.
“It’s a hard place to come. The crowd is on you non-stop.”
On Donovan’s dynamic display, boss Rodgers said: “I thought he was absolutely outstanding.
“I said to the players that I thought he was incredible for a young player making just his fourth or fifth start for us.
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