Celtic aren’t turning up to this season’s expanded Champions League just to take part.
The Bhoys face Slovan Bratislava, Borussia Dortmund, Atalanta, RB Leipzig, Club Brugge, Dinamo Zagreb, Young Boys and Aston Villa in a new format that holds excitement and intrigue.
The eight-game draw has increased the hype levels around the tournament with Celtic given a set of fixtures that many hope will see the Scottish champions competitive from start to finish.
Supporters are well aware that the club haven’t qualified for a Champions League knockout game for over a decade. However, that’s exactly the ambitious goal that Brendan Rodgers is aiming for this season.
Brendan Rodgers set to attack European rivals with Celtic
Speaking on Celtic TV this week, the manager said: “All the games are going to be great experiences for us and games where we can measure ourselves at this level.
“The club have done some fantastic work in the market, it’s given us that strength. Now we can go into these games and really test ourselves. We can really push and see if we can come out as one of the teams that can qualify for a playoff place at the end of it. So we’ll give everything we can.
We’ll be really positive in our approach. We know, we prepared for that over pre-season, there are going to be games where we just have to manage that and it can look slightly different for us. But our intent is to always impose ourselves in the game, to make it really, really difficult for the opposition that we are playing.
“That’s always our mantra. With and without the ball, whilst giving absolutely everything to our game and sacrificing ourselves to attack with everything we have and defend with everything we have. That’s what the Champions League will bring out of us, so I’m really looking forward to it. I cannot wait for it to start.
Celtic’s route to Champions League knockouts
In a new, giant 36-team table, it’s the top 24 sides who qualify for knockout football. The top eight go straight through to the last 16 with those who finish between 9th and 24th taking part in the play-off that Rodgers has set out as his aim.
It’s thought that nine or ten points will see clubs through, giving Celtic a realistic chance of progression.
The first test against Slovan Bratislava is so crucial. If the team don’t pick up three points then it’ll feel like Celtic have to play catch-up, which is the last thing you want against elite opponents. A victory? Well then it’s very much game on.
If the Bhoys beat Bratislava on the opening night then theoretically Rodgers’ side could be in the hunt for a top 24 slot even if they lose the next three matches to Dortmund, Atalanta and RB Leipzig.
With home matches against Young Boys and Club Brugge after that, there’s lots to play for even if that difficult-looking three-match run goes awry.
