Brendan can take us back to European final again, says Scott

As 100 beckons, Broony feels Rodgers can match Seville

SCOTT BROWN believes that Celtic are capable of making it to a European final under Brendan Rodgers.

The Parkhead side are out to win an invite to Europe’s biggest party by moving towards a place in the group stages of the Champions League tonight as they line up against AEK Athens.

And while making it back into the group stages is the main ambition of the season, Brown believes it is not outlandish to believe Celtic could replicate the achievements of Martin O’Neill’s team who made it to the UEFA Cup final in 2003.

“It was exceptional when Neil Lennon and those boys got to a European final,” he said. “There were incredible scenes in Seville with all our fans and it would be amazing to do something like that.

“I don’t see why would couldn’t do it. But our aim is to go as far as we can in the Champions League. We’ve reached the last 16 under Lenny and Gordon [Strachan] so that’s the big push for us.”

Brown will have his own achievement to celebrate tonight as he makes a little bit of history by becoming the first Scottish player to feature in a century of European games.

It is a significant milestone for the Parkhead midfielder who will patch himself up in preparation to go again and lead the battle for a place in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League.

If Brown was puzzled at the line of questioning yesterday afternoon at Celtic’s training ground it is because he was unaware of the personal significance of this evening’s encounter against AEK Athens.

“Is it? You learn something new every day,” he smile upon hearing his stats. “You wouldn’t have put money on that when I first signed!

“Seriously, it’s a great honour but for me this is all about getting into the Champions League and being involved in the group stages; that’s when it counts more.”

Never the kind to race after his opponent for a shirt as a souvenir, Brown has nevertheless catalogued a decent montage in his mind’s eye of the games he has been front and centre in.

Having been at Celtic for a decade, Brown’s memoirs of his European adventures are a who’s who of the cream of Europe with a few clear standouts as he sifts through the drama of continental competition.

“You look at Andres Iniesta, who has gone to play in Japan now,” said Brown. “It was an honour to play against him and, if not get past him, then at least have a good battle with him.

“It’s a privilege to come up against the best out there but I always just see it as games of football that I want to win – hopefully, more than they do. I don’t collect shirts, though. That doesn’t bother me. Some of the lads do but, because I’m up against the guy, I don’t want to run after him when