Paul Hartley enjoyed a relatively successful two year stint at Celtic Park but has warned against Celtic playing their usual style of football in the Champions League.
Under Gordon Strachan, Celtic were a very pragmatic side in the competition with Hartley being part of the team in season 2007/08 who got to the last 16 before losing out to Barcelona.
The Hoops will find out their fate today with the draw taking place in Istanbul.
Ange Postecoglou’s side will be contained within pot four and are likely to get drawn against tricky opposition either way.
The Australian boss who will become the first Aussie to manage in the tournament has vowed to stick to his attacking principles.
He proved this at the 2014 World Cup when his Australia side went up against Netherlands, Spain and Chile.
A few of the players have already stated that the Hoops have been preparing differently for the Champions League which Celtic fans will soon find out.
“I don’t think Ange does compromise, but sometimes you’ve just got to say, ‘We’re playing against better players today and we might get punished more,” said Paul Hartley speaking to the Scottish Sun.
“I like listening to him. I don’t know him, but I’d like to speak to him. I like the way he talks. He’s really honest, which is unusual for managers nowadays.
“He tells you how it is. If you play well, you play well, but if you don’t play well, you don’t play well.
“In the Champions League group stages you’re playing against better players and better teams that are better organised.
“They can also spend £50million on one player, so it won’t always be easy to play the way he wants, especially away from home.
“I’ve been there. We had to be really organised away from home, but we were different at Celtic Park because of the crowd.
“The Celtic supporters want to drive you forward all the time.”
It will be crucial that Celtic Park once again becomes a fortress on European nights for the Hoops as they get set to take on Europe’s elite.
Celtic haven’t featured in the competition since 2017 under Brendan Rodgers. The team under Ange has come a long way since the disappointment of Midtjylland just over a year ago.
“I do think it’s harder to get out of the groups.
“Reaching the group stage is excellent and I was lucky enough to get to the last 16 with Celtic.
“But the next stage and challenge for Ange is to try to get out of it and that’s never going to be easy.
“At the same time, we’ve seen it in the Europa League with what Rangers have done over the last couple of years.
“It shows what you can do if you’ve got a good enough squad and you believe in yourself.
“And I’ve always thought the backing of the home supporters is vital in these games.
“It’s a big season for Ange, in Europe certainly. It’s big for Celtic getting into the Champions League.
“I thought they’d strengthen the squad this summer and they have.
“Financially it’s a lot of money to get through to the last 16.
“They’ll want to do well in the group stages and not just make up the numbers.”
