Brendan Rodgers welcomes improvement by Celtic team despite defeat to Barcelona

Brendan Rodgers claimed Celtic had made "significant improvement" after they exited Europe following a 2-0 defeat to Barcelona at Parkhead.

Lionel Messi, who who scored a hat-trick in the 7-0 home win over the Hoops in the opening Group C fixture, struck from close range in the 23rd minute and doubled his tally from the spot 10 minutes after the break.

The Hoops put on a better show than they did in the Nou Camp but remain bottom of the pool with two points.

They travel to Manchester City for the final fixture, unable to finish third for a Europa League spot, while the Catalans go through to the knockout stages as section winners.

However, Celtic manager Rodgers was not too downhearted, saying: "As a coach you are looking for improvement and I thought we made significant improvement,

"I thought the way we pressed the game was very good and we won the ball back in high areas of the field and when we couldn't we got defensively very solid.

"They have huge quality but they didn't have as near so many chances as what you would normally see in the games they play so I was very pleased with the performance.

"The first goal I was disappointed with but the quality and speed of movement catches us out, but that's the level.

"We were always in the game, pushing, we had a big chance with a header and another opportunity when we broke away and then you get punished by a the penalty and at 2-0 against Barcelona, we still kept fighting and working but of course it becomes that little bit more difficult.

Ladbrokes Premiership leaders Celtic are odds on to qualify for the Champions League again next season and Rodgers insists they will be better prepared.

"First and foremost the challenge was to get into the Champions League," he said.

"The club had gone a period of time not qualifying, so we had a huge effort in the summer, over the course of the pre-season, to qualify, and this experience - we still have one game to go - was always going to be invaluable to us.

"If you look at the first game compared to now, we weren't fearful tonight.

"It is just about maintaining that standard.

"We have played three of the best teams in Europe in this competition and we have gradually got better with each game.

"We know the level now, it gets better every year.

"We have to go and try to get into it next year and each year the club is in it, it improves on and off the field - that is our ambition."

Rodgers was not impressed by the decision of Italian referee Daniele Orsato to award a penalty when Celtic left-back Emilio Izaguirre tangled with Luis Suarez, whom the Northern Irishman worked with at Liverpool, moments after striker Moussa Dembele had missed a great chance by heading weakly at Marc-Andre ter Stegen from a few yards out.

"I didn't think it was a penalty," said Rodgers who revealed that Scott Sinclair, who stayed inside at the interval with a knock, will be assessed ahead of the Betfred Cup final against Aberdeen at Hampden Park on Sunday.

"Luis is clever at grabbing a hold of the defender and spinning round.

"The referee didn't give us so much during the game but that's the way it goes sometimes."

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique was pleased with the night's work.

He said: "It was quite a hard game but I can't remember Celtic having a clear chance in the first half and Messi was at a really high level.

"It is a very difficult group. So it is great to finish first with a game to spare."