Brendan Rodgers, who is on the brink of a sensational return to Celtic as manager, has made it clear that the club must have greater European ambitions for him to take the helm.
Rodgers’ first stint at Celtic saw the team reach the Champions League groups twice, the Europa League group stages and make it to the last 32 of the Europa League.
Charlie Mulgrew, who worked under Rodgers during his first tenure, believes that the incoming manager will already have a detailed plan to advance the current side in European competition.
Rodgers has reportedly told the Celtic board that they need to aim to become a force in Europe and invest in the necessary infrastructure to achieve this goal.
Charlie Mulgrew said: [Football Scotland]
“I’m sure if he does have a plan to make Celtic a greater force in Europe then he’ll have thought long and hard about it being the top class coach that he is.
“I’m sure he’ll have a good idea about what he wants to do. Maybe that could entail having more of the ball but to do that you need to have good players which Celtic do. You need to take the ball in the right areas and be brave in venues away from home where there are hostile atmospheres and the expectation is on the home team to have the ball.
“You need to be willing to play under pressure and if Brendan decides to go down that route in Europe then it’s another way he could do it. All coaches do it differently and there are a variety of different ways to play the game but I’m sure Brendan will have his way if he does take up the challenge to come back to the club.
“He will have players in mind and styles of play with players who can fit that. Of course there is a certain amount of financial backing needed but you also need to be realistic. There won’t be hundreds of millions thrown at it in the way a Manchester City can.
“Celtic’s business model is top notch and it’s the reason why the club is run so well. It’s been impeccably run over the last 20 years and that’s credit to the owners and I think they’ll stay within that financial model but at the same time that also allows the manager to make some big signings.
“That is crucial as he’ll need to get people in the door who will suit his style. It’s exciting times and it certainly needs some money but not over the top amounts of money as Celtic don’t operate in that way.”
The return of Rodgers and his ambitious plans for Celtic in Europe mark exciting times for the club. While financial backing is necessary, Mulgrew believes that Celtic’s top-notch business model will allow for significant signings without requiring over-the-top amounts of money.
It’s believed that Rodgers will be backed significantly in the market as he looks to deliver success on the European front.
