If I were in Brendan Rodgers’ shoes I think I would be tempted to put out the same starting XI in Russia next week as the team who orchestrated the win over Zenit St Petersburg on Thursday night.

In what was one of the best performances this season – and certainly one of the most sustained displays – Celtic played with an aggression and energy and have ensured that they head to St Petersburg with a real chance.

Now just would I be tempted to go with same personnel but I’d also be tempted to go with the same formation because it worked so well.

Read more: Brendan Rodgers: Callum McGregor's match winner for Celtic reminded me of Frank Lampard's wonder goal for Chelsea

The way that Celtic were set up meant that they had complete control of the middle of the park against Zenit. That in turn makes sure that the defence is afforded an additional layer of protection and you saw that with the few chances that Roberto Mancini’s side created.

I thought Moussa Dembele led the line so well and it was a powerful performance that underlined just what it is he brings to the team when he is on it. The French striker didn’t get on the scoresheet but his work rate and hold-up play was impressive and it was Dembele’s tenaciousness in the first place that actually set up the chance for Callum McGregor’s goal.

But in fairness, there wasn’t a poor player throughout Celtic’s team.

The substitutions were made at the right time and the way they started the game just set the tempo that Celtic were able to go on and sustain.

Crucially, too, the players and the support were able to feed off one another; the way that Celtic went into the game gave them something to shout and then the response lends an energy and vibrancy to the way the players perform on the pitch.

You would have to come off and applaud what was an impressive performance but I don’t think anyone will need reminding that it is only the halfway stage.

Few would have expected Celtic to prevail over the course of this tie against a team who were able to invest £77m into their playing squad this year but the belief that Celtic had, their composure and confidence coupled with Zenit’s lack of match fitness allowed Celtic to dominate.

I don’t think there is any doubt that the fact Zenit haven’t played a competitive game since December had a bearing on how the game went but nor should that detract from how Celtic went about their business.

They will go to Russia next week and I don’t think they will feel as though it is beyond them to get through the tie.

There is no reason to change the set-up because it worked and although you would expect that Zenit will have more of the ball and will take more control of the game over there, Celtic have something to protect now.

Read more: Celtic defender Mikael Lustig ready for Russian test

And while Tom Rogic and potentially Patrick Roberts could be fit and available for that second leg I would suspect that at best they will start on the bench, which then gives you greater options if you need to change things around.

Charly Musonda’s arrival into the fray the other night gave the youngster a chance to show what all the fuss has been about. His chip into McGregor was impressive – as was the finish – but I am sure that over the next wee while we will really get to see a lot more of him.

And while McGregor might appear like one of the unassuming members of Rodgers’ squad, there is no doubt that the Celtic manager is well aware of the qualities he has.

He had an issue getting himself into the Scotland squad in the last qualification campaign but he is another Celtic player that you would expect to see within that contingent now under Alex McLeish.

I actually thought McGregor was really suited to that advanced role just behind Dembele although even when he dropped back a bit later in the game he still had a good grip of it. He was excellent throughout and if anything he looks as though he has been helped by getting a little bit of respite over the last few weeks as he has sat out a few games.

For all that Rodgers has insisted that it is beyond Celtic now to ever get themselves back into a major final, I don’t imagine it is what he is saying privately to his players.

No-one thinks that Celtic are about to embark on a run to the final but there is no way that his attitude to it is in any way defeatist. I think we all saw that on Thursday night.