WE'RE HERE TO QUALIFY

BRENDAN RODGERS will refuse to accept any excuses from his Celtic squad in tonight's Champions League showdown in Almaty.

- BY MICHAEL GANNON:

The Hoops hopes have been left in the balance after last week's goalless first leg draw in Glasgow - and no Scottish side has ever won in Kazakhstan.

Rodgers's men made the 3,500 long haul trek on Sunday and will kick off in boiling conditions at altitude.

But the manager insisted he’s not going to accept any bleating about the journey or the conditions and his players do not need any reminding of what is at stake.