Back Where We Belong

Manager delivered Champions League football to Paradise

- Jo Hendry

THE first target that Brendan Rodgers set for his Celtic side was to qualify for the group stages of the UEFA Champions League, something which hadn’t happened for three years.

And although the campaign got off to the worst possible start – a 1-0 defeat away to Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar – the Hoops recovered to safely negotiate their way through three qualifying rounds.

Having seen off Lincoln Red Imps, Celtic faced a tough test against FC Astana of Kazakhstan – an arduous away trip – and a dramatic two-legged encounter with Hapoel Be’er Sheva of Israel.

The reward was a place in the prestigious group stages of the competition, though it was the toughest possible group as Celtic faced Barcelona, Manchester City and Borussia Monchengladbach – the top-seeded team from each of the respective pots A, B and C.

But Brendan Rodgers’ side produced a creditable campaign, bouncing back from a heavy defeat in the Nou Camp to draw twice with Manchester City and once with Monchengladbach in Germany.

And the manager is confident that the experience will stand his squad in good stead for the European challenges ahead, as he told the Celtic View…