COUNSEL MEETING

Hoops ready to embrace Europa after CL heartache

- FROM MICHAEL GANNON IN BELGRADE

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

Celtic and Red Star could grab a few chairs, side 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’ 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 cup 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 theres 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 sides epic run to the UEFA Cup Final in Seville is part of Celtic folklore.