ANYONE surprised that AEK Athens got pumped 3-0 in Amsterdam in their opening Champions League Group match? No? Me neither. Yet this was the side that eliminated Celtic.
Frankly the Greek Champions will be lucky to pick up ANY points in the Champions League and are almost certain to finish bottom of their group. Yet this was the side that eliminated Celtic.
Celtic released stunning financial results yesterday – which demonstrate the galvanising effect that Brendan Rodgers has had on the club since becoming Celtic manager in May 2016 – see HERE.
Essentially the Rodgers effect has seen the Celtic PLC turnover double from around £50m to over £100m.
The next set of financials of course will not have the Champions League money – that will now go to AEK Athens – but it will be sweetened by the sale of Moussa Dembele to Lyon, who won at Manchester City last night without the need to involve the former Celtic striker.
Celtic PLC are now a £100m company and have cost commitments to match this so maintaining the revenue streams are vitally important and the Champions League revenue is required to keep us at that level.
The AEK loss was a sore one to take.
But as we are not a Champions League side this season, we have to make do with the Europa League – which will in all honesty probably produce better matches for the Celtic support. Those Champions League home fixtures last season were brutal – one goal scored and thee defeats, losing 8 goals and obviously gathering zero points.
Brendan Rodgers accepts that the Europa League is a more realistic level for Celtic at the moment.
“I think that’s fair to say,” the Celtic manager admitted.
“We didn’t qualify for the Champions League this year because we weren’t good enough, regardless of circumstances.
“So that’s where we are. Our aim is to still be in Europe after Christmas.
“It’s good games for us, a good group, so you want to be winning your home games then see what you can get away from home. That gives you a great chance to qualify.
“The Champions League is where all the glory is and all the rewards. But there are some top- class clubs in the Europa League.
“We are not entitled to be in the Champions League.
“It will always be a challenge for us, whatever competition we are in, but we have to embrace it and do our very best.
“We know where we are at as a club in relation to European football and everything else.
“But we have to do our best and hopefully we can show in this competition the experiences we have had the last couple of years and be better for that.
“Let’s see if we can go further than last year.”
