The Hoops secured Champions League football on Tuesday.
Football Soccer – Hapoel Be’er Sheva v Celtic – UEFA Champions League Playoff Second Leg – Turner Stadium, Beersheba, Israel
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has told the club’s official website he is proud to secure Champions League football for the board who ‘stuck out their neck’ to sign him this summer.
The Scottish champions secured their place in the Champions League group stages on Tuesday despite defeat to Hapoel Be’er Sheva.
Rodgers side were defeated 2-0 in Israel, but progressed courtesy of their 5-2 win in the first leg at Celtic Park last week.
It is the first time they have progressed past the qualifying round in the last two years after failing to do so under Ronny Deila.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers
Indeed, Rodgers was brought on board to try and ensure they could return to the competition and the Northern Irishman has admitted they stuck their neck out for him.
“I’m immensely proud, I’m so proud for the football club, firstly for Dermot, Peter and the board – it’s great for them as they stuck out their neck in the summer,” he told the club’s official website.
“The club has a really positive feel to it at the moment. This was always hopefully going to keep that forward momentum going and this was a huge step for us.”
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers before the match
It now remains to be seen how Celtic fare in the group stages of the competition after securing their progression.
Rodgers does not have the best track record in the competition, with his Liverpool side failing to make it out after they made it to that stage in 2014.
He will be keen to fare better with the Hoops, but further signings may be needed it that is to be the case.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers at the end of the match
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