Brendan Rodgers insists Celtic will not be in the Champions League play-off round just to make up the numbers, despite admitting the Hoops face a “huge challenge” against either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid.

Celtic secured their place in the knockout stages after finishing 21st in the competition’s new league format, despite a 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa on the final matchday. Their reward is a two-legged tie against one of Europe’s elite, with the draw set to take place on Friday.

Rodgers, though, believes his side have earned the right to be there and can make life difficult for whoever they face.

The Hoops boss was full of praise for his players after a campaign that saw them claim three wins—against Slovan Bratislava, RB Leipzig and Young Boys—as well as battling draws with Atalanta, Dinamo Zagreb and Club Brugge.

“We have qualified on merit and showed quality on the way,” Rodgers said, quoted by TCW. “It’s what the players deserve for what they’ve given over the course of the eight games.”

With Celtic now bracing themselves for a tie against either the 14-time European champions Real Madrid or German giants Bayern Munich, Rodgers is under no illusions about the scale of the task ahead.

“We know it’s either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid in the next round, so that’ll be a huge challenge,” he added. “We’re building confidence and showing we can play and make it difficult for the top teams.

“Whoever we play are clearly top-level teams.”

The new Champions League format has given Celtic an extended run at Europe’s top table, and their performances have shown they are capable of competing. While defeats to Borussia Dortmund and Aston Villa exposed some frailties, the Hoops have demonstrated resilience and attacking quality in equal measure.

With the draw now looming, Rodgers and his players will soon know whether it’s a trip to the Santiago Bernabéu or the Allianz Arena that awaits them. Either way, it promises to be another massive European occasion for Celtic, with a place in the last 16 up for grabs.