We’ve improved says Celtic boss

BOSS Brendan Rodgers remains optimistic about Celtic’s future i n Europe despite t h i s s e a s o n ’s interest ending with the 2-0 home defeat to Barcelona last night.

Lionel Messi, who scored a hat-trick in the 7-0 home win over the Hoops in the opening Champions League Group C fixture, bagged a double, the first from close range and the second from the spot, to ensure t he visitors progressed into the knockout stages as group winners.

The Scottish champions remain bottom of the pool with two points gained from draws with Manchester City and Borussia Monchengladbach and travel to the Etihad Stadium next month for the final fixture unable to finish third for a Europa League spot.

Sitting clear at the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership, however, Celtic are odds-on to qualify for another shot at the Champions League next season and Rodgers insists they will be better prepared.

He said: “We know the level now and it gets better every year.

“We’ve now got to go on, make sure we get into it next year and each year the club is in it, it improves on and off the field and that is our ambition.

“First and foremost for us it was about getting into the Champions League.

“The club had a period of time not qualifying, so we had a huge effort i n the summer over the course of the pre-season to qualify.

“This experience, though still with one game to go, was always going to be invaluable for us with lots of young players who will improve.

“If you look at the first game compared to now, we weren’t fearful. It’s about maintaining that standard.

“We have played three of the best teams in Europe over t he course of t his competition so far and we have gradually got better in each game, so the challenge is after Christmas we’ve got to keep the demand.”

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers.