Former Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has backed Brendan Rodgers to propel the Parkhead side on to a higher European level.
Celtic’s recent experiences in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League have been fraught given the vast differences in financial resources, but O’Neill has maintained that the only way to improve upon that is through repeated exposure to that standard.
“Even when you are doing well domestically, you cannot afford to take your eye off the ball in a European context,” said O’Neill. “I have no doubt in time that Brendan will get Celtic to that level in Europe. He will look to address what needs to be done.
“It is tough because the co-efficient is so stacked against you. If you are in Pot 4 then you know that you are coming up against some pretty stellar, elite teams. Over time and in the next few seasons I would fully expect Brendan to make inroads into that.
“I’d repeat that it is the hardest thing to do. I loved the domestic success we had, of course we all did, and it was fabulous to give that to the supporters and to enjoy that sense of bringing silverware to the club.
“He will address what needs done and it is definitely in a European context where you sense the excitement and the energy of the fans.”
O’Neill has said before that his greatest achievement at Celtic wasn’t in winning the club’s first treble since Jock Stein’s era but rather in taking Celtic from Pot 4 in the Champions League to Pot 2.
It is a jump that seems unimaginable now given what that leap would entail since, in the current climate, Celtic have to be satisfied at taking crumbs from the table. Entry to the group stages of the Champions League offers significant financial bounty to the Parkhead club as well as six guaranteed games against high-quality opposition.
It is only by continually facing that challenge does O’Neill see any way of improving the club’s standing in European football.
“Yeah, getting the club into Pot 2 was a big thing purely because it reflected just how well we had done against some pretty significant European company,” he said. “When you consider now how the landscape has changed again in terms of finance and resources even at Championship level in terms of salaries and what not, it is a huge ask.
“But I would maintain that the only way to go about it is to be there. That in itself is so difficult because you have the qualifiers to endure and get through at a ridiculously early point in the season and you can be up against some really good teams.
“No-one should underestimate just how challenging it is simply to get there. But, really, that is the environment that you have to aspire to be in. It is the only way to raise the bar.”
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