The money doesn't come into it. Celtic getting into the Champions League is.. PRICELESS

IT has been all about the money for Celtic this summer, whether it's the reluctance to spend it or the pile of it up for grabs tonight in Almaty.

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Brendan Rodgers has been right in the thick of the talk for weeks but the Hoops boss insists there are some things that you just can't put a price on.

Like being in the Champions League proper.

Rodgers knows there's a £40million bounty up for grabs if they can see off Kairat.

After months of trying to persuade the Parkhead bean counters to open the wallet, the prospect of an extra few quid in the coffers might help his case.

But there's so much more to all this than just topping up Celtic's already impressive bank balance.

Rodgers sees Celtic as a natural Champions League club.

He insists others share his vision in the background and whether or not that is the case might be up for debate given the issues the manager has been left with regarding his squad going into this tie.

All of that stuff has to be parked for now. Rodgers is refusing to let the background stuff dampen his mood or his desire to get back to the biggest stage.

When asked if it all was worth more than just hard cash, he said: "Yes, absolutely.

"That's a consequence. First and foremost, as a football manager and for the players, we want to be challenged and operate at the highest level.

"Everything else is a consequence of that. So, yes, the money really doesn't come into it.

"Of course, it helps in lots of ways at the club. But you can only get that if you perform on the field. That's what our job is."