It was as Brendan Rodgers labelled it a 'generational performance'. For those who were lucky, honoured and privileged to witness Celtic's 3-1 Champions League humbling of Bundesliga cracks RB Leipzig it will rate very high in the 'I was there' category in years to come.

Celtic served up their best two performances of the season back-to-back with a 6-0 destruction of Aberdeen in the League Cup semi-final last weekend followed by the comprehensive lacerating of Leipzig. Forget Oasis reforming - This was all part of Rodgers' plan from the start.

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The Irishman said: "I think the four days, from Saturday’s performance and getting to the League Cup final was a real statement win for us domestically. But then to go into a game of that magnitude against that level of opponent, I've heard it talked about a generational game, which I couldn't argue with. The performance level, it's something that we've been working towards for the last 12 to 16 months.

"Going back to last season, our performances against Atletico Madrid and away in Feyenoord when we lost. I know that people purely only look at the score, but for me, it's about the process and the build-up to that. And even partly, the Borussia Dortmund game plays a part in that. We started off the Champions League really well with three really good performances out of the four.

"The other night, it made me so proud just watching the team and the level of the team and how aggressive we were with and without the ball against a genuine top side. It was a great night for the players, for everyone in the club, the supporters. They would have had a glow now for a few days and rightly so because their team did them proud. Now we're back to our bread and butter and get ready for Kilmarnock.

"The process is all about looking to sustain it at that level and you look to try and do that over numbers of years, not just a couple of games. It was a big step, I felt we made in the last few games and in particular, the one at home. The performance, when I felt it in the game, but watching it back and seeing the tactical discipline in the team and the work rate of the team and the ambition in the team, but then the absolute quality of which the players, the technical level that they played and the speed and the pace in the game and how creative we were, it was so, so good. as we had that combination.

"Once you do that on the field, Celtic Park was built for performances and nights like that. You sensed and felt what the crowd thought of it. That gave a big, big energy to the team. So we reflect on it, we move on. We can't wait for the next game in that competition at home again but before that, we've got a couple of really important games.

"I think that's always been my mantra with working with teams and, more importantly, working with individuals. I said it here over a number of weeks ago, no matter what the scorelines we’re winning by, we still have a duty to develop players. So I know that the players will continue to develop. I think you can't underestimate the confidence that a win like that the other night and the performance in Atalanta in a different way, what that brings to you.

"I think for the players, just the level was so high with and without the ball and that gives us great confidence going forward. There are still lots of improvements that the team can make, and the individuals can make and will make over the coming months. We've been waiting probably as a club and a support base for a performance like that for a while. It's not just to perform, but to win and perform to that level. And we want to sustain that. I think we've shown in three of the four games in the Champions League that we're actually a good side. But we know we've got a lot of work to do.

"Our first aim is to make the playoffs and that's still very much the case."

Celtic did indeed dine out on some fine Champions League cuisine in midweek as they proved that they do possess the necessary football ingredients to mix it at European football's top table. Nothing pleased Rodgers more than the high press which led to Nicolas Kuhn's second goal of the evening and put Celtic 2-1 ahead on the night.

The Irishman said: "It's one of my best goals since I've been here because everyone loves the nice part of the game. However, when you can convince players to do the hard pressing and the hard running and make those last steps inside the press against top-quality opposition, who are renowned for that themselves. We've already gone through that and showed the players that.

"We showed it from our analytical angle and we showed it from an angle from the level behind the goal, where you hear the crowd and you hear how much joy that gives supporters, seeing their team press with that hunger and that desire. I always say, if you press well, you pass well. I think that's been the best game, a demonstration of that on Tuesday night as the second goal was great."

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(Image: Craig Foy - SNS Group) Although the build-up to the match against Marco Rose's Bundesliga high-flyers was slightly overshadowed by the news that Barcelona La Masia academy graduate Alex Valle could be recalled from his loan spell in Glasgow by his parent club before January.

Greg Taylor replaced Valle in the starting line-up against the Germans. The left-back has still to sign a new contract with the club and the situation is giving the Irishman much food for thought. However the 51-year-old insists that there is no appetite to usher the Scotland international out the Parkhead exit door. Far from it.

Taylor is free to talk to other clubs come January but Rodgers is hoping for an amicable solution long before it gets to the nitty-gritty stage. In short, he wants Taylor who has recently become a father to stick around at Celtic for as long as possible as he is a manager's dream to work with.

Rodgers said: "With Greg Taylor, there is nothing as of yet. You see his importance to our game the other night. I think the possibility of having two quality players in each position, I think that's what you see in the game the other night. We play Alex (Valle) in the semi-final and he does fantastically well.

"Tuesday night was a different game, I felt, and what we wanted from the game. So I can then bring Greg in and you see the level that he played at, how clean he was, how bright he was, how well he defended, how well he attacked. He's someone I see as a big part of what we're looking to continue here and I hope over the coming months that we can do that.

"There does come a point where both sides, we have to understand what we're thinking, because if it's not going to happen, then OK, we know that. "We can then plan and prepare going forward. I hope it doesn't get to that because I love working with Greg Taylor. He's played, what, about 186 games here.

"I can't tell you how influential he is off the pitch and how good he's been on the pitch for this club, the consistency and also how we play. "Both our full-backs are critical for us and how we operate, and they have two totally different functions and how they work. Greg is a specialist in what he does for us and you see the flow of the team.

"We've got different solutions to get through. He's a massive part of that. So, I hope that we can do something. Plus, I like him. He's such a good guy. He loves being here. He's a big voice in the changing room. Every single day in training, he's so good. He's focused. He's just married. He'll be a father later on in the year as well. So, we want him to settle down and get everything ready for him. I just want to continue working with him for as long as I possibly can."

Rodgers was less forthcoming about the prospect of opposite number right-back Alistair Johnston penning a new bumper deal.

The Canadian international was handed the armband as he stood in for skipper Callum McGregor and scored in the 3-0 league win over Motherwell at Fir Park two weeks ago. He is hoping that Johnston like Taylor will put pen to paper and extend his current deal. Rodgers said: " I've seen something on that basis probably four or six weeks ago as well. So nothing to add.

"He's clearly a player, of course, we'd want to tie down and he's absolutely a fantastic guy to work with, both on and off the pitch. So hopefully, in the future, that can be the case."

From RB Leipzig to Kilmarnock may represent a comedown in football terms for Celtic. Although Rodgers has instilled a laser-like focus and Champions League mentality in his players for every occasion. He said: "It is always a tough game against Derek McInnes’ teams. I think when we played them a couple of times in the early part of last season, they were better than us and deserved to win.

"Once we got to grips with how we were working and our idea and focus at the turn of the year, we were obviously in a different place. Come the end of last season we were in a really good place. I would say now we're in an even better place. That doesn't take away the tariff of the game. It's still going to be very difficult. Derek’s teams are always well-organised.

"They're always super motivated and they will always challenge you and that's something that we'll be ready for.

Fine dining in the Champions League or the bread-and-butter of domesticity. It's all the same for Rodgers' Celtic. There is a hunger and a thirst to be successful in every match. Football and not life is the name of the game in this case for Rodgers. If Celtic continues to produce 'Generation Games' like they did against RB Leipzig they'll also continue to wow their generations of fans.

It was all part of the plan from the start. 'The Rodgers Masterplan' for Celtic.