Champions League Progress Would Give Brendan Rodgers the Edge Over Ange Postecoglou…
Celtic’s performances under Brendan Rodgers have triggered an inevitable question – has the team progressed since he replaced Ange Postecoglou as manager? The Hoops had just relinquished the Scottish Premiership title for the first time in a decade when Postecoglou arrived in 2021, with theRangers clinching the trophy.
The Parkhead faithful hoped to bounce back and were excited when Eddie Howe was linked with the managerial role. However, they ended up with Postecoglou. Despite his track record of success overseas, many fans and pundits questioned the wisdom of the decision to appoint the Australian.
: Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou reacts during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Celtic FC and Real Madrid at Celtic Park on September 06, 2022 . (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Postecoglou’s ultra-attacking philosophy blew the supporters away, with his aggressive high line and suffocating press making Celtic a formidable force. Five trophies in two years sparked interest from Tottenham Hotspur, and Postecoglou was ultimately tempted to move south of the border.
Rodgers’ return was not universally welcomed following his acrimonious exit to Leicester City and his first season back in the dugout was undoubtedly a mixed bag.
Shift in Style Fails to Hit the Spot in Europe
Celtic’s 2023/24 Champions League campaign left a lot to be desired. They finished bottom of Group E below Atletico Madrid, Lazio and Feyenoord to exit the competition. Having grown accustomed to Postecoglou’s attacking approach, the manner of Celtic’s performances in Europe and left fans feeling underwhelmed. Rodgers worked with project signings such as Gustaf Lagerbielke and
Referee Irfan Peljto gives the red card to Odin Thiago Holm of Celtic during the UEFA Champions League match between Feyenoord and Celtic FC at Feyenoord Stadium de Kuip on September 19, 2023 ANP OLAF KRAAK
who both mad their Champions League debuts in Rotterdam in the opening match of the group and both got sent off leaving Celtic with just nine players. Neither will be involved in the campaign this season.
The Australian manager had moulded Celtic into a force to be reckoned with during his time at the club, making them the scourge of online bookmakers. Postecoglou’s team garnered significant interest with bettors in his homeland, who were eager to bash the bookies by wagering on Celtic.
The Hoops went on a lengthy unbeaten league run and new Aussie bookmakers were inundated with wagers backing the Hoops to win. However, Postecoglou’s exit changed the narrative at Parkhead, with Rodgers failing to garner the same excitement among Aussie bettors following his appointment.
Summer Transfer Business Should Improve Celtic
Despite winning the league and Scottish cup double last season, Celtic needed to halt their run of awful Champions League showings by improving their squad. The club focused on signing younger players during the 2023 summer transfer window, but they have added depth and experience to their ranks this time around.
Goalkeepers Viljami Sinisalo and Kasper Schmeichel were signed to replace Joe Hart, while Auston Trusty and Alex Valle look to be shrewd defensive acquisitions. Celtic also signed midfielder Paulo Bernardo from Benfica permanently for £4 million. Arne Engels and Luke McCowan are other useful additions to the squad.
However, their most important signing is the purchase of Adam Idah of Norwich City for £9.5m. He was Rodgers’ top target and Celtic got the deal over the line.
Losing Matt O’Riley to Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion was a blow, but Celtic’s current squad still looks stronger than the one which finished last season and the team so far this season has been playing a higher quality of football than ever before.
European Exploits Will Determine How Rodgers is Viewed
Having overseen a poor European campaign in 2023/24, Brendan Rodgers put the pressure on the Celtic Board by continually saying he needed to make quality signing in order to improve Celtic’s fortunes in this season’s Champions League.
It is worth noting that the Hoops did not make a dent in continental competitions under Postecoglou, despite the hype about his playing style, and the obvious reason for that was Celtic needing to add quality signings.
Chelsea’s Roméo Lavia fights for the ball with Celtic’s Callum McGregor during a pre-seasonl match between Chelsea and Celtic at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana, on July 27, 2024. (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Celtic flew out of the blocks ahead of the new campaign, laying down a marker with pre-season wins over Premier League heavyweights Chelsea and Manchester City. They have mauled Kilmarnock, Hibernian (twice), St Mirren and arch-rivals Rangers to set the tone for the season. Performances look much sharper than last term.
Kyogo Furuhashi of Celtic FC reacts after scoring a goal during the FC Series against the Manchester City FC at Kenan Memorial Stadium on July 23, 2024 in Chapel Hill, NC. (Photo by David Jensen/Icon Sportswire)
Celtic have landed some tough fixtures in the Champions League against RB Leipzig (H), Borussia Dortmund (A), Atalanta (A) and Aston Villa (A). However, games against Club Brugge (H), Young Boys (H), Dinamo Zagreb (A) and Slovan Bratislava (H) are winnable if they put their best foot forward.
Queen s Park v Celtic – Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers ahead of the pre-season friendly match at The City Stadium, Wednesday July 10, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan
Celtic, so proud of being Champions of Europe in season 1966/67, are desperate to put years of mediocrity in European competitions behind them and show some progression under Rodgers.
If they give a worthy account of themselves in the Champions League by reaching the knockout stage, Rodgers may well be viewed in a more favourable light than Postecoglou.
