EUROPE IS BEST STAGE TO HELP RODGERS
DIDIER AGATHE is convinced a run to the group stages of the Champions League will only aid Celtic in their bid to clinch back-to-back trebles. He watched on in awe as Brendan Rodgers led the Hoops to an incredible Invincible clean sweep in his first season at the club. The 41 year-old insists there will now be expectations among the Celtic fans to make an impact on club football’s biggest stage.
Rodgers’s side acquitted themselves well enough against Barcelona, Manchester City and Borussia Moenchengladbach yet failed to win any of their group games to finish bottom of their section.
But former Hoops winger Agathe believes the group stage
ANTHONY HAGGERTY
should be Celtic’s natural habitat and fully expects them to perform better next term.
When asked if Celtic would face a difficult season after lifting the Treble Agathe said: “It will be easier if they qualify for the Champions League.
“If they do so that will keep their standards very high across at least the opening half of the season. So they need to do that.
“What they have done this past season is incredible. Maybe people outwith the country think it’s easy to win a treble in Scotland. It is not.
“When you have won a treble, people expect a lot from Celtic. People will be expecting them to be good in Europe.
“I think a club the size of Celtic should be in the Champions League group stages every year.”
Agathe, 41 , became a cult hero among supporters after being snapped up by Martin O’Neill in 2000 from Hibs and says he can see striking similarities between O’Neill and fellow Northern Irishman Rodgers.
He insists Celtic are in safe hands under Rodgers because his management skills are second to none, just like O’Neill’s.
Agathe said: “There are real similarities between Brendan