Celtic are two Scottish Premiership titles away from an elusive 10-in-a-row.
Frank McAvennie has told The Scottish Sun that Celtic can’t focus all their efforts on winning a ninth successive Scottish Premiership title, insisting that progress in the Champions League is important.
Celtic, who won an unprecedented treble Treble last month, are just two league crowns away from the historic 10-in-a-row which would sting those on the blue side of the Old Firm divide.
The Hoops, then under Brendan Rodgers, failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time under the Northern Irishman last season but, with Neil Lennon now at the helm, there is renewed optimism that he can lead his troops back into Europe’s elite competition.
The financial splendors of reaching the group stage are nothing like anything that Scottish football has to offer and McAvennie says that Lennon – the last Celtic manager to qualify for the knockout phase – must balance European progression and prolonged domestic dominance.
He told The Scottish Sun: “All the talk right now is about Celtic going for Nine in a Row — but that’s dangerous. Celtic need to be switched on on all fronts.
“This is a huge Champions League campaign for Celtic after what happened last year and Neil will know that better than anyone.
“He’s still the last guy to have led the club into the last 16 during his first spell and I’m sure he’ll believe he can do that again. It’s not going to be easy, though. We saw that last year.”
Lennon’s side face FK Sarajevo in the first qualification round next month.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
