Celtic must build on Champions League exploits by backing Brendan Rodgers

In partnership with

The Celtic Star

·21 février 2025

Celtic must build on Champions League exploits by backing Brendan Rodgers

On and off the park Celtic needs the UEFA Champions league next season. It’s where we belong and where we need to be so it’s crucial that the Board back Brendan Rodgers in the summer transfer window…

Alphonso Davies of Bayern Munich celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between FC Bayern München and Celtic FC at Allianz Arena on February 18, 2025. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

Celtic pushed Bayern Munich all the way

Unfortunately our Champions League campaign came to an end on Tuesday night, but not without a valiant effort after pushing a superb Bayern Munich side all the way in a pulsating 90 plus minutes of football in a match where Celtic had the better chances.

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That game, and our campaign as a whole proved that we can now compete at this level. Indeed we proved it’s where we belong, and next year we need to make sure we not only get to the group stage, but show more of the same qualities we displayed and push on to make the last 16, maybe even further. That’s the new target now that Brendan Rodgers will be setting for his squad and for the Board to improve that squad over the summer.

Alistair Johnston of Celtic looks dejected as they applaud the Celtic fans after the final whistle. Final score Bayern Munich 1 Celtic 1 Agg. 3-2. Bayern Munich v Celtic, UEFA Champions League, Knockout Round Play-offs, Second Leg, Football, Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany – 18 February 2025 Ulrich Gamel/Shutterstock

Revenues set to top £50m

Off the park it’s reported we earned a staggering £38.23 million for our participation in world football’s premier club competition, and that’s not including the profits from match day revenue which could push that bounty to around the £50 million mark or possibly even more.

That wealth on offer shows how important it is we compete at his level on an annual basis, but the wealth of experience and success we picked up on the park is also just as vital for the players and supporters as the bounty on offer, although I doubt the money men will agree!

Adam Idah of Celtic battles for possession with Josip Stanisic of Bayern Munich during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between FC Bayern München and Celtic FC at Allianz Arena on February 18, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

Celtic has a play-off round in summer*

With automatic qualification not on offer next campaign we will have to negotiate a play off fixture although we will be seeded if we do win the league this season, which looks very likely with that 13 points advantage going into the weekend.

It’s vital we build on this promising campaign and get to this stage once again, and that means investing and recruiting more quality into our squad. We have the means and there is absolutely no excuse not to do so. If we have any ambition as a club then it’s what we need to do, and nothing less will suffice. It’s where we belong after all as Scotland’s most successful club and the only one to have won the European Cup and to have played in two finals.

*Assuming we win the Scottish Premiership this season, which at the moment certainly looks likely as Celtic currently has a 13 points lead and a large goal difference advantage.

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