“You can’t just turn the tap off and say, ‘right, you become super defensive’. It’s not how we play. What do we do? Sit back, have 15% of the ball and probably lose 3-0, 4-0?”
Rodgers would prefer to “play as you play” and learn from mistakes rather than “play five at the back”.
“I’d much rather do that and go down with my own vision,” he said. “I respect the opinion, but I don’t listen to it. Never have.”
Rodgers does not consider himself “a dreamer” regarding Celtic’s chances of being competitive in the Champions League, with games still to come against Atalanta, Leipzig, Bruges, Dinamo Zagreb, Young Boys and Aston Villa.
“We will be judged in January when the eight games are finished and we’ll see where the points total takes us,” he added.
“I believe in the group of players, how they’ve been working. It was a sore one the other night. I know we will bounce back to a stronger position, because we will learn from it.
“I’m not daft. I hear all the words. ‘Pragmatism’ and all this stuff, whatever else gets thrown at teams that want to play. We don’t play that way to lose, we play it to win, and we also know there are certain games and opponents you have to adjust.”