HOOP THERAPY

Rodgers and his players put top-tier misery behind them as they relish the Europa League challenge

- MICHAEL GANNON

IT might be matchday one of the Europa League in Belgrade tonight but it could also double as a Champions support group.

League Celtic and Red Star could grab a few chairs, sit around in a circle and get all their heartache out in the open.

Stand up and tell us a bit about yourselves.

"Hi, we're Celtic. We failed to prepare properly for the Champions League qualifiers and ended up getting embarrassed by a team from Kazakhstan." Thanks for sharing. Who's next? "Hi, we're Red Star. We were in the Champions League last year and wanted back but we sold some of our best players and got papped out this time by Pafos." Ah. Good sharing folks, help yourselves to a cup of tea and a cake.

Celtic and Red Star have both worked their way through the Champions League stages of grief- and Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers is now at acceptance.

His club are in the Europa League and there's no point moping about what might have been in the top-tier competition.

There could be some fun to be had in this as well.

Rodgers doesn't need a reminder about what could happen. Martin O'Neill's side's epic run to the UEFA Cup Final in Seville has become part of Celtic folklore.

And it's a handy bit of inspiration for the current crop as they look to get the European juices flowing again.

Rodgers said: "We have to forget about the Champions League, that's gone. We can't look back.

"It's very much looking to the future and how we can improve on the pitch.

"In 2003, that created some incredible memories for people, and that came off the back of a disappointment in qualifying.