Celtic FC, who have started the league this season firing on all cylinders, characteristic of Brendan Rodger’s management since he joined in May 2016, are hoping they can replicate their consistent domestic success in Europe. Four wins from four matches with zero goals conceded despite playing in the Old Firm derby is, without doubt, impressive form, but ex-Celtic player Chris Sutton Celtic will get very few plaudits if they only continue to dominate locally.

Brendan Rodgers, however, believes that Celtic are in very good form to compete in the Champions League this season, considering the good work the management has done in the transfer window. A quick comparison of online bookmakers shows odds of around 250/1; the grim reality is that it will take some otherworldly, impressive football for Celtic to lift the trophy, yet fans and pundits alike will at the very least appreciate a good outing in Europe.

While Rodgers has warned that it will be a great disservice to the teams and disrespectful to undermine their competition in the UCL, and there’s still room for squad building before they can replicate their 1967 European Cup success, he had this to say:

“All the games are going to be great experiences for us and games where we can measure ourselves at this level,” he told Celtic TV. “The club done some fantastic work in the market, it’s given us that strength. Now we can go into these games and really test ourselves. Really push and see if we can come out as one of the teams that can qualify into a playoff place at the end of it. So we’ll give everything we can. We’ll be really positive in our approach. We know, we prepared for that over pre-season; there are going to be games where we just have to manage that, and it can look slightly different for us. But our intent is to always impose ourselves in the game, to make it really, really difficult for the opposition that we are playing.

“That’s always our mantra. With and without the ball, whilst giving absolutely everything to our game and sacrificing ourselves to attack with everything we have and defend with everything we have. That’s what the Champions League will bring out of us, so I’m really looking forward to it. I cannot wait for it to start.”

Chris Sutton agrees that the Celts are indeed in better shape compared to last season. In his daily column, he said, “Celtic were underprepared for Europe’s elite last season with inadequate signings and those key injuries…It’s Europe where it’s at and the manager has said himself that the club has done fantastic work and given his squad the strength to make a push for the Champions League play-off round. You can’t replace O’Riley, but signings such as Arne Engels for a club-record fee are a real shot in the arm for the squad and a statement of ambition.

“Celtic’s hierarchy have somehow managed to get their supporters buzzing with their window and still make a profit in the summer market. It says much for their running the club.”