So much is on the line for a club like Celtic when they start Champions League qualifying at the start of a season. With qualifying been made so much more difficult for genuine champions like Celtic it makes qualification so much more of an achievement.
Celtic shot-stopper ScottBain feels that achievement is up there with winning a cup.
Speaking with Record Sport he said:
“It’s massive for Celtic. But we have a long way to go in the qualifiers and it’s a long route to get there. If we can then 
it would be like 
winning another cup.
“That’s how the players look at 
Champions League qualification. We need it and want it.
“And we’ll play more games to get into the group stage than we’d do to win a cup in 
Scotland”
Bain makes a good point. Celtic will win the Scottish Cup or the League Cup playing fewer games now then they need to for qualification to the Champions League. When the club has won all domestic trophies available to them over the last three seasons it seems harsh now that the players need to start their season so early.
Most Celtic players are playing 60 plus games a season for their club. The injury list Celtic had last season has to be linked to the number of games the Bhoys are been forced to play.
There is a massive pot of gold for the Hoops if they manage qualification. The club would earn more than six times the amount of cash they received for their historic treble treble achievements.
