Chris Sutton has named four Celtic players that can’t be sold this summer if Ange Postecoglou wants to make progress in Europe.
While sweeping all in front of him domestically the Celtic boss has naturally found things much tougher on the continent.
Beating AZ Alkmaar last season was a decent achievement to reach the Europa League group stage while there were a few highlights and nearly moments in the Champions League without being able to deliver a telling result.
Next season’s Champions League group is likely to be more of the same with the odds weighed against the champions of Scotland who are likely to have two opponents from the five richest leagues.
Getting competitive in Europe is a huge task with Sutton telling Daily Record readers that four players must be retained if Celtic are to have a fighting chance of success:
Postecoglou won’t change his ways. But that doesn’t mean he can’t tweak them and I’ve a hunch he might well do just that next season. Plaudits are all very well, but he’s all about results and, if it has to be reined in a bit to get them, then that’s what’ll have to happen. He’s too smart not to see that. He needs to keep certain players.
Buying and selling will come in the summer, but he has to keep Reo Hatate, Cameron Carter Vickers, Kyogo and Callum McGregor. The draw, obviously, will play a part in how it goes.
Champions League success is asking too much in the current climate, but performing well, obtaining a scalp, then getting past Christmas and making a mark in the Europa League is not.
Postecoglou has warned fans not to get too attached to heroes, in January Josip Juranovic and Giorgos Giakoumakis were both sold without interruption to domestic success.
Bringing in players ready to hit the ground with minimum settling in time is critical, finding another Alastair Johnston or two would go a long way towards delivering real success in Europe.