Unai Emery outlines Celtic 'respect' as Aston Villa boss bares all over haunting Champions League battles with Rodgers

Unan Emery insists his previous run-ins with Celtic and Brendan Rodgers will go out the window at Villa Park, reports Michael Gannon from Birmingham.

And he warned his Premier League big guns the Scottish champs are piling down south looking to WIN.

The Spaniard squared up with Celts under Rodgers as PSG boss – and thumped the Hoops 7-1 in Paris and hit five at Parkhead.

Emery also came a cropper when Neil Lennon’s side defeated his Spartak Moscow side 3-2 in Russia to blast into the Champions League last 16.

The Villa gaffer insisted the past clashes are ancient history but he’s wary of Celtic’s current side after being impressed at the displays in Europe this season.

Emery said: “I played against Celtic with other clubs – but it doesn’t matter for this one. Brendan Rodgers is a fantastic coach. He’s shown it at Leicester and of course Celtic, but also going back to Swansea and Liverpool.

“The last time we were together it was at Leicester City and it was always difficult against teams he managed. It was a different moment with PSG, with different teams. I also played Celtic with Spartak and that was a different moment too.

“This time we will respect them. They are a winning team and they have a winning mentality.

"They are used to winning every week in the league. They have experience, international players, and they will be feeling confident coming here to face us.

“They will feel they can get close to us in terms of performances. I have analysed them and they are in this position because they have a good coach and good players. The have players who now feel like Champions League players. We will need to be ready for that at the start of the match.

“I have analysed them and watched their matches in this competition.