Rodgers: We can’t win the gulf war but we’ll fight to stay in it
BRENDAN RODGERS reckons it’s unfair to compare the huge cash gulf of the Euro elite to Celtic’s financial superiority in Scotland.
The Parkhead boss admitted his club face a tough task competing with big guns like PSG with their £700m squad and £350m wage bill.
The continent’s top guns have up to 10 times Celtic’s budget – while the Hoops have a similar advantage over several clubs in Scotland, including Ross County whom they face today.
Rodgers insisted there is no comparison though as he is convinced it’s a steeper step to take on the super clubs.
The Parkhead boss said: “It’s totally different. With all due respect, when you are working with that level of player, you see the difference.
“I understand the relative comparisons that get made. But it’s different because of that level of player and belief.”
Rodgers is still smarting following the PSG hammering and admitted it’s a nightmare trying to compete with the super rich top seeds in the Champions League.
The French giants had a £420m frontline in Neymar, Edinson Cavani and Kylian Mbappe – and had £150m of talent on the bench.
Rodgers believes the gap between the haves and have-nots in the Champions League is getting wider.
He said: “You can actually see it. Someone showed me something in terms of finances and Qarabag and ourselves in relation to the rich clubs.
“What’s interesting when you look at it is that teams used to have, say, one or two top players supplemented by other good players.
“But look at that PSG team and what they’ve got, all across the pitch, boys you wouldn’t think of at first.
“Verratti and boys like that, top, top players. Thiago Motta, Silva’s a Brazilian captain.
“The gap financially is huge. But for the likes of us there is a comparison with the teams in pot three. Borussia Monchengladbach last year were way above ourselves.
“It’s way above that. It’s only going one way in the market.
“It is very tough but it’s where you want to be. This is where the learning and development happens for your players.
“Every year it gets further and further away with the money in the game, whether people like it or not. But we still want to be there.”
Rodgers is determined to make the most of Celtic’s crack at the Champions League this year but he is aware it could be even tougher to get to the groups next season with the Scottish champions facing four qualifiers.
He said: “It makes it more difficult for clubs like us from countries like ourselves. It’s where we want to be, for many reasons, but it’s only going to increase the difficulty as the years go on because money talks.
“The objective is to qualify for Europe beyond Christmas. Take away the top two then these are the games that will really be deciding factors.”