A defiant Brendan Rodgers insisted he has never been more motivated to get Celtic's season back on track, starting with their Europa League tie with Sturm Graz. 

Celtic welcome the Austrian side to Glasgow on Thursday, hoping to get their first European points on the board after drawing with Red Star Belgrade and losing to Braga. 

This match will be Rodgers' 63rd in Europe with Celtic, moving him outright second ahead of Neil Lennon (62) for European games managed, behind only Jock Stein (68).

But the Scottish giants come into this important tie off the back of a disappointing league defeat to Dundee United at the weekend, their first in 2025-26. 

According to reports, some have suggested that Rodgers could face the sack if things don't improve – but he has made one thing clear about his commitment at Celtic Park.

"I've never been more motivated in my time at Celtic," Rodgers told reporters.

"I can come into a club and teach and inspire and motivate players and at this point in time, I can't be any more motivated to turn it around.

"It's okay when you're winning trophies and playing good football and everything else. We have all seen the challenges from the summer to now and the continuation of that.

"I'm so determined to try and turn the feeling around and the feeling on and off the pitch because, for me, it's not what Celtic is about or not what Celtic should be about."

In the wake of their defeat to Dundee, Rodgers said that he had been given the keys to a Honda Civic, and that he couldn't be expected to drive it like a Ferrari.

That was in reference to his attack following an underwhelming transfer window that saw 11 new faces arrive, though six of those were either free or loan transfers. 

One of those they paid a fee for was Sebastian Tounekti, who has made the most opposition half take-ons (15) in the Europa League this season, as well as the most take-ons in the opposition box (five). 

A late-season injury to Jota has kept the Portuguese winger on the sidelines, while Nicolas Kuhn was also sold months after prolific striker Kyogo Furuhashi's January exit.

And that has hindered their attack this season, with Celtic netting just 11 goals in their eight league games this term, the joint-fifth lowest total in the division. 

"You will get frustrated at times," Rodgers added. "You're only human and you will get disappointed.

"We were talking six months ago about challenging at the latter stages of the Champions League. And now we're losing these types of games.

"So, I'm super motivated to do the very best that I can for this club and that motivation is burning inside to be able to do that."