Chris Sutton believes that Celtic’s Champions League prospects are dependent on two people- Ange Postecoglou and Reo Hatate.
With attention switching to the transfer window it could be overlooked that Postecoglou probably has a higher profile than anyone else at Celtic.
There has been regular speculation about EPL clubs showing interest in the Celtic boss but so far there has been no real test or offer put to the former Australian international boss.
Equally there hasn’t been the slightest hint of unrest from Postecoglou but with a forward looking manager the club board also has to be looking beyond the next six months.
Sutton has watched the squad evolve over the last two seasons, domestically Celtic are in good shape but the former hoops striker told the Daily Record that his old club can’t take many chances if they want to advance in Europe:
It will be interesting in the summer with Ange Postecoglou talking about the prospect of some of the bigger players being sold and others coming in.
It’s been pretty seamless so far in terms of players coming in but at some point you might hit the buffers. It’s about what happens next. For me, it’s about the Champions League and whether Celtic can compete.
First of all they need to hold on to the manager, which is really one to watch as he’ll be sought after and courted. You want Ange Postecoglou to stay and he’ll be even more determined to make his mark in Europe. It will be interesting in terms of who comes and goes.
I think Reo Hatate is irreplaceable, in the way Celtic play. They won’t have the to get players up to speed as the Champions League still comes around pretty quickly.
There are certain players who Celtic just can’t do without and they really need to hang on to if they are to match the ambition of the supporters, and that’s to give themselves the best possible chance of competing in the Champions League. Even with the players they have it will be difficult, but they have to give themselves the best chance.
I know it’s the model, there is a responsibility to pick and choose when the time is right to sell. But we saw how difficult Europe was last season and we’ve seen the development and progression in these players. Celtic will need to hold on to their big guns and have them ready to be firing to have the best possible chance.
With a place in the group stage draw Celtic can plan ahead with some certainty, unaffected by the lottery of trying to get through qualification rounds that often proved hazardous with a knock on effect on transfer activities.
If you think Celtic can compete in the UCL, then you are deluded!
In it’s present form Celtic will likely go into a Group with two potential winners! To compete with those teams is an impossibility!
The Teams are also seeded, so that even if you have a couple of good games, these big teams cannot be ousted. It guarantees that the teams with the money, second, third and fourth placed teams in the big Leagues can get into the knock-out stages.
As for Postecoglou being courted, that is simply a journalists dream. Who is going to court him? English clubs think our League is a joke. His CV will guarantee he gets work but I don’t think the Big Guns in Europe wont go for a guy who made it in Scotland.
So, enjoy Celtic’s success at home while you can because that is all the success you are going to get. Stein and the Lions are immortal in football terms, in their own right. That also means that they cannot be reproduced!
Editor: I definitely think that they can do better than in their last three visits to the group stage.
Reaching the last sixteen would be an improvement. But I wouldn’t put money on it!