PRICELESS
PSG can’t buy Celts’ history, says Rodgers
BRENDAN RODGERS insists Celtic have a history, fanbase and tradition that mega-rich clubs like Paris Saint-Germain cannot buy.
Scotland’s champions enter tonight’s Champions League clash in the Parc des Princes as 30/1 rank outsiders to halt the powerful momentum of a club armed with the world’s most expensive forward line.
Boasting a 100-per-cent record from their opening four games in Group B, the French league leaders thrashed the Parkhead side 5-0 in Glasgow back in September and victory in Paris tonight could clinch first place ahead of Bayern Munich.
Aiming to achieve Europa League football beyond Christmas by securing third place ahead of Anderlecht, however, Rodgers insisted: ‘Celtic have something a lot of clubs don’t have — a rich history, a support and a real fanbase.
‘You can’t buy that. And we have to do
that in our world. We will never be able to do what they can (financially) at PSG. That is why people will think it is wrong in football. But it is modern football in every format. ‘It is the big challenge we have, but we are progressing.’ Currently facing a UEFA Financial Fair Play probe after spending £350million on Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in the summer, a club propped up by state-backed Qatar Sports Investments is simply out of Celtic’s financial league. Conceding that PSG’s spending raises questions over the effectiveness of FFP regulations, Rodgers added: ‘Others can spend it — it is whether they decide to or not. ‘It certainly does make a mockery of it because it’s hard to find where the fair play is when it comes to paying £200m for the buy-out clause for a player. ‘But I don’t tend to get bogged down in it because there are so many rich clubs out there. ‘You now have countries looking after clubs, not just rich owners. ‘Ultimately, they can bring more of the talents together, whereas in the past you used to have just two or three talents. But I tend not to overthink it. The money in the game now is astronomical, it benefits lots of people — players, owners, fans, but there are rules there to govern the game and they have to try to stick by them.’ PSG have yet to earn the respect of a Barcelona or Real Madrid, Rodgers claiming it could take 20 years of sustained success to take them even close to that level. He added: ‘You can’t buy history. It is winning trophies and titles. With PSG, I think everyone will agree it is arguably the most exciting front three in the world. ‘But, to back that up, you have to win trophies and sustain that success over many games. ‘In terms of big, iconic clubs, they have real history, support and a fanbase — all of that. ‘Celtic, of course, has all that but we don’t have anywhere near the finances of a club like PSG.’ Rodgers could recall fit-again defender Jozo Simunovic for his first start since the 3-0 win in Brussels on September 27. ‘Yes, Jozo is ready,’ said Rodgers.