Chris Sutton is tipping Celtic to make a big impact on their return to the Champions League.
Three times in the first decade of the century the hoops took nine points from the group stage with Celtic Park a genuine fortress.
Since Tony Watt sealed a famous win over Barcelona the fear factor has gone with only Ajax losing at Celtic Park in the last decade.
The away day jinx was ended away to Spartak Moscow in 2012, five years later Brendan Rodgers masterminded a famous 3-0 win away to Anderlecht but there has also been some sore results along the way.
Parking the bus is alien to Ange Postecoglou but the hoops boss is expected to modify his side’s style compared to the domestic fixtures where Celtic dominate possession and often suffocate their opponents into submission.
Sutton has been on the park and in the commentary box for most of those Champions League nights, speaking to the Daily Record he is anticipating a roller-coaster as Postecoglou takes his ideas into the most unforgiving environment in the game.
Performances are important. I think what Ange Postecoglou will be looking for is to give one or two teams a bloody nose this season. All he talks about is the process and performance and watching Celtic at the weekend dominate the ball, I think Postecoglou will want to do that.
You mention last season, I don’t think it’s necessarily fair to judge Celtic as a team in Europe last season because it was all about the league. It was disappointing in Europe, you can’t get away from that fact, and this season there will be people scrutinising saying ‘can they compete?’.
You saw what happened under Brendan Rodgers and his philosophy and going into Europe and getting absolutely smashed and walloped. I suspect there’ll be games in Europe where Celtic will play with a bit more balance and maybe not so gung-ho as they are in domestic competitions.
Postecoglou isn’t daft and he’ll realise the standard of teams they’re up against but I think he’ll have the same sort of principles of dominating the ball, being brave on the ball, and giving one or two a bloody nose.
And I do think Celtic are capable of that but I still worry about Celtic defensively and their brand of football being exposed because when you go up a level the spaces you find are too big against the big teams and you get exploited, but I’m sure Postecoglou has a plan for that.
Giving some teams a bloody nose is what Celtic will be looking to do and the first games in the Champions League are absolutely crucial. If they can get something from the opening couple of games, it’ll offer some hope, whereas it was thoroughly depressing last time out in the Champions League.
Celtic will be in Pot 4 for the Champions League draw which takes place on August 25.
