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Brendan Rodgers: Celtic gave Barcelona too much respect

GLASGOW -- Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers said his side showed Barcelona too much respect in their 7-0 demolition at the Camp Nou but have learned a lot and will prove it at Celtic Park on Wednesday.

Barca will guarantee a place in the Champions League knockout stages if they win, while Celtic need three points to keep their hopes of qualifying for the Europa League alive.

The Scottish champions have improved since their hammering in Spain, drawing at home to Manchester City and at Borussia Monchengladbach, but are bottom of Group C.

"We clearly showed [Barca] too much respect last time and I think the scoreline was bitterly disappointing," Rodgers said at his pregame news conference on Tuesday.

"We have to respect that they're good players, but you can't take that into the game. You have to impose your style.

"It was a difficult night for us, but at the time I also said it was about learning and we've shown that we have. We learned a lot, so our mentality will differ because the players showed in the game against Man City how they've changed.

"Now we have an opportunity to show that against Barcelona with incredible support behind us. It should be an unbelievable atmosphere."

Lionel Messi missed Barcelona's weekend draw with Malaga due to a bug and Luis Suarez was suspended, but both will return to link up with Neymar in Glasgow.

"If Lionel Messi plays then of course he's arguably the world's best player and I think he's shown when he doesn't play they are a different team," Rodgers added.

"With Luis Suarez and Messi they're a different team. I think Luis Suarez is in that bracket [with Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo] now.

"He's made Barca a better team with his quality, his goals and his spirit.

"I think if we're talking about the Ballon d'Or then last year I don't think there's anyone better than Luis Suarez. He'd be deserving of that award."