TALKING CELTIC
have given Celtic some epic evenings in the competition since their inaugural experience under Martin O’Neill and more will be expected.
Given the philosophy of the club and the manner in which Brendan Rodgers has laid the groundwork for a team who play with that in mind, this is a Celtic support who will turn up for these encounters i n more than just hope; whoever Celtic will be taking on, there is a belief that they have it within them to punch above their weight.
The financial injection that the club receives for their involvement will be at least £25 million, but it is the prestige that appeals most once feet step outside the boardroom.
There is glamour in the competition no matter who Celtic will be paired with, but coming up against a significant European heavyweight would add to the sense of occasion.
The draw takes place at 5pm and the Hoops will watch with interest to see who is coming calling. Pot one of the Champions League is a who’s who of Europe’s richest clubs.
Flexing their financial muscles this summer has made them all pretty formidable and whoever Celtic come up against they are guaranteed to find the going tough.
Real Madrid is the one Celtic fans would love to see. The club have not come up against Madrid since 1979/80 when the Spaniards won 3-2 on aggregate in the former European Cup.
Pot one contains the champions of the top eight European teams, including holders Real Madrid. Pot 1: It might seem like complaining that the Harrod’s truffles are causing too much indigestion, but if there is one team Celtic will want to avoid it is Barcelona.
It is not just the memory of the 7-0 defeat in the Nou Camp a year back, as nauseating an experience as that was, but also the fact they have played one another so often in recent seasons – five times in the Champ-ions League over the last decade and one in the UEFA Cup too.
Celtic’s fans might fancy a clash with PSG. Neymar’s switch has added to their weight while the French giants still had the funds for a whopping deal for teenage superstar Kylian Mbappe. While those names might give Celtic’s backline a shiver down their spine it would certainly make for an interesting night for Rodgers’ side.
A Battle of Britain is always well received in Glasgow given the snooty comments that emanate whenever an English commentator’s nose is snubbed towards Scotland. And, given the amount of places Premier League teams get, the chances of Celtic coming up against one of them are high.
Last season the Parkhead club acquitted themselves impressively against Manchester City while historically they fared well as Blackburn Rovers and Liverpool can testify.
Manchester United, Ronaldo and all, can recount how Celtic Park rocks on a European night while Steve Gerrard spoke last week of how he was “lost” in the frantic atmosphere.
Given the remarks made last term by TalkSport’s Adrain Durham in which he was particularly scathing about the standard of Scottish football and the extent of Celtic’s Treble winning campaign, there might be a few in the Hoops dressing room who would enjoy the chance to prove a particular point. Pot 2: