In his latest column for RecordSport, Chris Sutton discusses Celtic’s Champions League potential under the leadership of Ange Postecoglou, particularly focusing on the team’s performance in the Champions League. Chris believes that the key to Celtic’s success in the upcoming season lies in defending their home ground, Celtic Park, more effectively.
The former Celtic man reminisces about the UEFA Cup Final 20 years ago, where Celtic faced Porto. Recalling the team’s determination and the sense of pride they felt despite the loss, emphasising that Celtic’s home ground was a fortress during that era, with the team achieving significant victories against high-class sides.
However, the Englishman notes that in recent years, Celtic Park has lost its intimidating aura, with visiting teams enjoying their games rather than fearing them. Postecoglou has had some success, with wins over Ferencvaros and Real Betis in the Europa League, but the Champions League has proven to be a significant challenge.
The former Celtic striker acknowledges the high standards of the Champions League, making it difficult for Celtic to compete at the highest level consistently. However, he points out that Celtic has shown potential in the past, such as when they went toe-to-toe with Manchester City under Brendan Rodgers.
Postecoglou’s team has been unbeatable at home domestically since his arrival, and the former Celtic man believes the challenge now is to transfer this success to the Champions League.
The BT Pundit admires Postecoglou’s principles and style of play but suggests that some tweaks might be necessary for the team to achieve better results in the Champions League.
The Englishman concludes by stating that while Champions League success might be too much to ask in the current climate, performing well, obtaining a scalp, and making a mark in the Europa League is achievable.
Indeed, the landscape of the Champions League has drastically changed since the days when the former Celtic man graced the pitch. The competition has evolved into a financial powerhouse, with clubs spending hundreds of millions of pounds to assemble star-studded squads. Even with such astronomical investment, many teams struggle to compete with the top-tier clubs, illustrating the immense challenge that Celtic faces.
The disparity in financial power between Celtic and these high-spending clubs has widened over the years, making it even more difficult for Celtic to make their mark in the Champions League than it was during Sutton’s era. The task at hand for Celtic is not just about tactical acumen or player skill, but also navigating a landscape where financial might often dictates success.
