Martin O’Neill wants to see Celtic reach the Champions League heights of season 24/25 under Brendan Rodgers.
Two seasons ago Celtic were given an automatic place in the new look group stage.
Out of 36 teams they finished in 21st place, with 12 points, the same amount as Juventus.
After a decade of misery that had resulted in just one home win in the Champions League hoops fans celebrated three Celtic Park victories.
Slovan Bratislava were hammered, RB Leipzig outplayed then YB Bern edged out on a night of drama. Club Brugge escaped with a draw.
It felt like Celtic were back in the big time, punching their weight rather than also-rans.
Two matches against Bayern Munich reinforced that view.
Last season it all went wrong against Kairat Almaty.
From going toe to toe with Bayern Celtic were dumped out of the competition by the champions of Kazakhstan.
Kairat went on to pick up one point from their eight matches. They had a goal difference of -15, close to losing every match by two goals.
O’Neill watched those contrasting campaigns as a media outsider.
O’NEILL TAKES CONTROL OF CELTIC’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FATE
Over the next week he has the opportunity to steer Celtic back towards being on the centre stage of European football.
Looking to the Play Off tie against LASK the Daily Record reports O’Neill saying:
If you qualify for the Champions League then, well done, good luck to you.
Celtic did fine the last time they were in the group stage when you think about getting hammered in Dortmund and learned from the process, getting the draw in Atalanta and then beating Leipzig.
It gives you a bit of confidence to go and qualify. I was out in Munich [for the knockout clash with Bayern in February 2025] where the team played exceptionally.
The disappointment came from that the next year when expectations were really high and suddenly you don’t even play in the Champions League. Whether you are ready or not, it’s immaterial – you should really take the opportunity.
Tonight’s Celtic side will be almost unrecognisable from the one that drew 1-1 in Munich.
Only Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty and Callum McGregor are expected to start tonight. Reo Hatate, a starter against Bayern is expected to be on the bench tonight.
The turnaround in the squad over 18 months has been vast.
Celtic went to Munich soon after selling Kyogo Furuhashi to Rennes.
Against LASK they can call on Kasper Hogh and Camilo Duran.
Between them the new signings scored 10 goals in the Champions League last season.
Qarabag reached the Round of 16 Play off where they lost to Newcastle.
With Hogh on fire Bodo Glimt reached the last 16 where they lost to Sporting.
Odds are against us, fail to prepare etc, again!.