Brendan Rodgers believes the Celtic need to be significantly better in Europe and for that to happen the squad needs quality additions…
Brendan Rodgers file photo File photo dated 25-05-2024 of Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, who praised the performance of Nicolas Kuhn. Photo Jane Barlow
In a pre-match press conference held at Lennoxtown today, the manager said: “We have to be better in Europe. Simple as that, you can’t beat around the bush. When you look at where we’re at, we have to be better.
“But In order to be better, you need quality. And if we’re going to improve in Europe, then we need to find that.
“We’re in an exciting Champions League format, so we’d like to get to the play-off stage of that.”
Celtic haven’t enjoyed the best of Champions League campaigns, having finished bottom of their group again last season.
Despite impressive performances against the likes of Lazio and Atletico Madrid, Rodgers’ side only managed to muster up four points in six games.
The season before that, under Ange Postecoglou, the Scottish champions were drawn into a difficult group consisting of Real Madrid, RB Leipzig and Shakhtar Donetsk where they finished bottom again, with a record of two draws and four losses.
But it seems as though Rodgers is eager to get the Celts kicking on the European stage, and what better time to do that than with a new format?
Celtic will now compete in a Champions League that looks like a single league. 36 teams will partake in the league, with each side playing eight matches against eight different teams. Depending on the draw, this will give Celtic the chance to pick up points against the weaker teams, whilst still having the occasion of the big draws against the likes of Manchester City and Real Madrid.
Rodgers knows that it’s not just down to the format though, but also up to our signings. With our only incomings being Viljami Sinisalo, Kasper Schmeichel and Paulo Bernardo, time is ticking for more players to come through the doors of Celtic Park.
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July 23, 2024: Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel (celebrates a goal during the FC Series match between Manchester City and Celtic at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. /CSM Chapel Hill USA Photo Greg Atkins
Despite the lack of deals being struck, the manager is over the moon with Celtic’s pre-season, saying: “This is arguably one of the best pre-seasons I’ve ever had.”
And the promising look of his side has been recognised by his opponents. He went on: “I had one former player of mine, who played for Chelsea, he said after the game when we played against them, he was talking on the bench, and he was talking about ‘That’s a Brendan team we’re playing’.
“So that was a good sign for me on a personal level because he’s played for me before and knows what I expect and demand and he can see it in a different team.”
The draw for the league phase will take place on 29 August, with it kicking off on 17 September.
Jessica Elliott
I see Brendan is begging the Board again via the media for quality additions to the squad before Celtic embarks on the Champions League campaigne. He won’t get them. Lawwell and Co are not listening! Brendan has enough to win the diddy Scottish league and that’s all the suits care about. The vision for them is to increase that big bank balance with quality sales, not decrease it with quality purchases. You’re living in a dreamland, Brendan!