Amidst the swirling vortex of Celtic's Champions League squad announcement and the inclusions and omissions, as well as Reo Hatate and Nat Phillips on the mend.

Indeed, there was a vital piece of information shared by Brendan Rodgers during his 'State of the Nation address' on Celtic TV this week that seemed to fly under the radar. The Northern Irishman referred to it as 'the Gibraltar game'. It was clearly a reference to his first-ever match in charge when Celtic succumbed to Lincoln Red Imps in Gibraltar during the first leg of a Champions League qualifier in July 2016.

A 1-0 deficit was easily overturned 3-0 in the second leg at Celtic Park, but seven years ago Rodgers said: "I'm not really [shocked]. I know these results can happen. We stay calm. We need a performance next week."

There was certainly a feeling of deja vu for yours truly as well as the majority of the Celtic supporters when they tuned in to hear Rodgers' latest musings on where he felt the team was now placed.

Compare and contrast the words spoken in the light of the defeat to Lincoln Red Imps to these uttered by Rodgers this week: “There was a game when I was here the first time that really crystallized everything. That was the Gibraltar game when we lost.

"For me, the St. Johnstone game will be that. I’m pretty sure I’ll look back at the end of the season and that game crystallized some of the items where we needed to be better. Within the game, within the structure, mentality. Then obviously we were able to go on and get a very good result.

“So, for me, we’re going forward now into an exciting part of the season. [We’ve got] some more players back, but we have to really consolidate that.”

Sounds very familiar, doesn't it? This is the new managerial Rodgers in a nutshell. I've spoken before about how cold, calm and calculated Rodgers has been since his return to the Celtic managerial helm. In fact, he's bordered on being bullish at times. 

READ MORE: Why it's nothing personal but strictly business for Rodgers

The 1-0 defeat to Kilmarnock in the League Cup and the 0-0 stalemate was met with Rodgers with a cry of 'Bring on the Rangers' and that it was the best possible game to get over 180 minutes without a goal. He was proved right.

The 1-0 Glasgow derby win at Ibrox prior to the international break was achieved by the collective effort of Rodgers and his players. It was a tactical masterclass from the boss man, in particular aided and abetted by stellar displays from Liam Scales, Callum McGregor, Matt O'Riley and Kyogo Furuhashi. It sent Celtic and their faithful skipping into the international recess with an extra spring in their step.

With the impending return of Japanese midfielder Reo Hatate as well as the chance to see new recruits Luis Palma and Paulo Bernardo against Dundee at the weekend, one could be forgiven for thinking that the new mood music around G40 is all Ian Dury and the Blockheads.

"Reasons to be cheerful 1, 2, 3."

Rodgers has plenty of reasons to be cheerful. Seven years ago, Rodgers Celtic team picked themselves off the canvas in Gibraltar and qualified for the Champions League group stage. They also reeled off a domestic 'Invincible Treble' and the enormity of that actual achievement is still sinking in today.

Rodgers didn't panic in Gibraltar after the loss to European minnows Lincoln Red Imps. He certainly didn't panic after the League Cup defeat to Kilmarnock or the draw with St Johnstone. He simply drew on all of his managerial and big-game experience to guide his team through their toughest test to date at Ibrox.

Celtic Way:

Celtic and their manager passed that with flying colours. Rodgers will rely on all that knowledge and wisdom again come Tuesday night when Celtic embarks on another Champions League group stage campaign when they roll into the De Kuip Stadium in Holland to face 1970 European Cup winners Feyenoord.

The toss can be argued as to whether Celtic's squad is strong enough to cope with the rigours and demands of Champions League group-stage football. Rodgers and his team will find out the answers to that question in due course.

READ MORE: Celtic's Champions League squad leaves a lot to be desired

The 50-year-old has been here before. Many times. Few things faze Rodgers when it comes to this round ball game.

That's why - just like Ange Postecoglou - you have to listen intently and join the dots and connect the lines whenever Rodgers speaks. If the St Johnstone game has mirrored the "Gibraltar game" and Rodgers is “pretty sure” that he'll look back on it as a watershed moment in Celtic's season then that's fighting talk. The rest should be worried.

The Gibraltar game was the making of the 'Invincibles' in many ways. In order to experience almighty highs sometimes you have to sink to the lowest depths. The Lincoln Red Imps debacle and defeat felt like a crushing low at the time. Celtic recovered and then some. Fast forward seven years and the football premise is still the same. Granted, Kilmarnock and St Johnstone were low blows in Rodgers' early tenure as Celtic boss the second time around.

You learn more about your team in defeat and adversity than in winning. That adage is most certainly true. It is for Rodgers. If St Johnstone is Rodgers 'Gibraltar game' then if history repeats itself then it will turn out to be the making of the current Celtic team. 

As the manager said: "For me, the St. Johnstone game will be that. I’m pretty sure I’ll look back at the end of the season and that game crystallized some of the items where we needed to be better. Within the game, within the structure, mentality."

Victory at Ibrox was a sweet moment hence: "Then obviously we were able to go on and get a very good result."

You get the feeling that Celtic are well on the road to recovery already under Rodgers. If that is the case, then it could be rather ominous for the rest of Scottish football.

Celtic will be a totally different animal when they face Dundee this weekend as well as Feyenoord away in the Champions League on Tuesday. Two entirely different games. Two entirely different approaches. Both will be masterminded by Rodgers.

As for within the game, within the structure and mentality - the instructions to the Celtic players on both occasions will be clear. Crystal clear. As Rodgers would say 'Crystallized'. For the doubters out there, refer to the words of the Rt. Honourable Brendan Rodgers on the steps of Celtic Park as he addressed the supporters after his second unveiling in June.

Rodgers said: "When I left here four years ago it was probably one of the saddest days of my life. But it's that very reason I am here today. So for those who are with me and always have been, let's enjoy the journey. For those whom I need to convince, I will see you here in May."

After an early wobble, Rodgers and Celtic seem 'pretty sure' of themselves once again. Celtic have a steady hand on the managerial tiller. Rodgers' hands are as steady as the Rock of Gibraltar.