The final details for the Champions League group stage were completed tonight with Rostov, Manchester City, Borussia Monchengladbach, Dinamo Zagreb and Copenhagen joining tomorrow’s draw.
The final five clubs were confirmed with the shock of the night coming in Russia where Rostov overcame a first leg defeat to put Ajax out on a 4-1 aggregate, not many Celtic fans will be complaining about that result.
Hoops fans experienced every emotion possible as their team finally got past Hapoel Beer Sheva on a 5-4 aggregate but it could soon be the case that the drama of the qualifying campaign is a thing of the past.
For over a decade getting through two or three qualifying ties has been the main target for successive Celtic managers, Ronny Deila failed that test while Brendan Rodgers came through with flying colours and squeaky bums all round.
Later this year UEFA will sit down to another revamp of the Champions League and it’s unlikely that it’s going to be favourable to Celtic or to anyone outside of the elite nations.
Playing the emotional card before the home match against Hapoel Rodgers said: “For European football, they need the big clubs in there. But Celtic is a big club, a huge club. The competition is a better place for clubs such as Celtic and Ajax, for example – teams with great history in the European Cup and Champions League.
“It’s not just for our club, it is for the opposition as well because for them to come to Celtic Park in the Champions League is an experience many great players over the years have spoken about. It is one of the best experiences they have ever had.
“So European football deserves Celtic at the top table. Okay, there obviously has to be conditions for them [the other clubs] to get there as well. I understand and respect the money in England and elsewhere. I was a part of it for a number of years. I see where that’s at.
“But surely it’s not all about the money. It’s also about the prestige and there has to be a door open – and a door open wide enough – for the type of clubs like Celtic and the great historical clubs of European football.”
CELTIC will be put in pot four meaning that their three opponents all have higher co-efficient with the exception of Leicester City who get a pot 1 place as champions of one of the top seven nations
CLICK HERE for the three pots showing the teams Celtic can get in tomorrow’s draw.