CHAMPIONS LEAGUE REVAMP IS A DISASTER FOR CELTIC, SAYS DOUGLAS

CELTIC’s seville hero Rab Douglas has hit out at UEFA over a ‘crazy’ Champions League qualifying system that will force his old club to play eight games just to reach the group stage.

A revamp of the world’s richest club competition means Parkhead boss Brendan Rodgers has to guide his team through four two-legged ties — meaning nonstop midweek European football from mid-July until the end of August, if they are successful.

Rodgers got Celtic into the group stage in each of the past two seasons, raking in a pot of gold for the club in the process.

Douglas, part of the team who reached the UEFA Cup final in seville 15 years ago, says UEFA have definitely tilted the pitch against the scottish champions.

‘When you see what Paris saint-Germain and the likes of Zenit st Petersburg are spending on players, it is frightening,’ said the former scotland No 1.

‘And what will Celtic get from winning the league? £3million? It is a big ask to reach another final. I think just reaching the group stage would be amazing. But they have an extra qualifier this year — which won’t make it easy.

‘I’ve always said that, if you are champions of your own country, you shouldn’t have to qualify.

‘They need to play eight games to qualify, which is crazy.

‘That’s what Celtic probably base their budget on — reaching the Champions League so they can improve the squad.

‘If you can reach the group stage and bring in a good player, it sets you up for the rest of the season.’

Douglas believes Craig Gordon will be crucial to whatever Celtic achieve this season, tipping the 35-year-old keeper to carry on for at least another couple of years.

‘He doesn’t seem to put weight on,’ he said. ‘He manages injuries and there is nothing to stop him.

‘He has another good few years left at the very least. He clearly looks after himself and has made a big effort to get into the style Brendan Rodgers wants to play.’