Europe is apparently the target for Celtic.
That is the view of Anthony Joseph who covers the hoops in detail for Sky Sports News.
While the domestic trophies have been piling up at Celtic Park matters European have been something of a running sore.
It is now 19 years since Celtic won a European knock-out tie which came soon after Peter Lawwell took over as CEO.
There has been signs of hope, three times Celtic have made it out of the Champions League group stage but there has been no signs of momentum or building a squad that is comfortable at European level.
Gordon Strachan and Ange Postecoglou had very different approaches to playing in the Champions League, now responsibility falls on Brendan Rodgers to produce progress.
Give Me Sports reports Joseph saying:
In my conversations with contacts and sources, they keep stressing that they really want to compete in the Champions League and make a mark in Europe. And certainly, in the new format, they feel they have the foundation and the budget to win the league this year and put themselves in that position to get that increased Champions League revenue, and the increased amount of matches and really make a mark.
Celtic will almost certainly go into Pot 4 in the Champions League draw which means that they are likely to face some serious big hitters from Pots 2 and 3.
Pot One consists on holders Manchester City plus champions from the highest ranked leagues including Porto and Feyenoord.
In fairness to Rodgers, I believe he is giving every opportunity to players at present to try and make the 25 needed for a CL squad, even in the knowledge of players being included who remain well short of the quality required.
A very tough balancing act, made even harder with finding and potentially using or having to depend upon the 8 Scottish players required within a squad.
Still no real idea still about who will make up the 8 needed, with only 4 names I would say will definitely be included and that includes Bain as a 3rd choice keeper.
Would our new signings, along with a few from last season, really be ready to step up to CL level?
Not overly confident at present, as still believe the squad needs strengthening for CL level, yet still by far the strongest available within Scottish football at present still.
Hopefully a few more faces can be added before the Asian tour, as thing’s becoming a little bit to slow for my own liking at present, yet remain very confident that everything will be well resolved before the CL campaign kicks off
IF BR delivers a Treble this season – but fails to secure that CL Group 3rd spot,
would that be deemed a successful season?
[Of course any Treble is huge success, but Europe progress is also what we want.]
I’d be happier with another SPL title and CL 3rd spot:
the cups can go to ‘anyone but sevco’. 🙂 I”d see that as progress.
Nearly 2 months of transfer window to go,a bit of calm is needed before the doomsayers start their wailing
CELTIC lose 1 first team regular “Jota” and get 25 million pounds to replace him “the rangers” lose 4 first team regulars “McGregor, Arfield, Morelos,Kent,” and got nothing to replace them….. so no need to panic buy now
Celtic under Lawwell and Desmond do NOT want to make progress in the Champions League. Fact!
You have to build a squad for European football – and we keep on keep on selling our best players, or major assets. Why is this?
It is because Desmond will get the dividend he wants by trading on a profit-making model and not a European Footballing Success model. Simple! Take Jota as an example of a player sold, with four years on his contract to run!
I can prove that Lawwell is a THIEF! But I just don’t have the resources to push it!
Photy: Neil Lennon does his best to cover his embarrassment for kow-towing to Desmond and Lawwell as Celts lost the ’10’ in horrific fashion, and allowed the new huns to carry on pretending they’re the old huns and exhilarating Desmond, Lawwell, the SMSM and all their fellow masons. Fukkemall!
#Desmond has a Lawwell near the market place, (the Barras)
Lennon’s a bad singer with their band,
Desmond turned to Lawwell “do you like my face”?,
And Lawwell said “I just prefer to lick your arse.”
Oh ma divs, oh ma divs, oh ma divs o-oh
Just let me keep takin’ all ma divs,
Just let me keep takin’ all ma divs!
I believe they both like Marmalade, but only for breakfast.