Rodgers thrilled to be able to compete with likes of Barcelona

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New Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is thrilled that the club will compete in this year’s International Champions Cup

New Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is pleased the club will play in the ICC tournament

Brendan Rodgers has expressed his delight to Celtic’s official club website that the Bhoys will be competing in this summer’s International Champions Cup.

Celtic will play in the US and Europe side of the competition, playing some of the biggest names in world football including Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and of course, Leicester City.

Their first fixture in the competition will take place next month in Glasgow, against Premier League champions Leicester on 23^rd July.

Celtic will play Premier League Champions Leicester

They then travel to Dublin to face Neymar, Messi and Suarez of Barcelona a week later, before taking on Inter Milan in Limerick in mid-August.

And for Rodgers, the fact that Celtic are in the competition reflects the stature of the club.

Celtic will also play Barcelona in Ireland

“Ahead of the league season, it is magnificent that the club has been invited to play in the ICC Tournament along with some of the world’s other great football clubs. It is where a club of Celtic’s stature should be,” Rodgers said.

“We will be in great company and to put ourselves up against the Premier League champions Leicester City, as well as Barcelona and Inter Milan is a challenge we relish and of course the profile which the club will gain globally is fantastic.

“We will play matches in both Scotland and Ireland giving so many fans the chance to experience some great occasions, and the calibre of opposition we are playing can only help us for the challenges ahead and in getting us where we want to be.”

New Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers poses with the Celtic shirt

Celtic will also have to negotiate the qualifying rounds of the Champions League before the start of the domestic campaign, which kicks off for the Bhoys on August 6^th against Hearts.

The draw for the Third Qualifying round of Europe’s premier competition takes place tomorrow, with the fixtures taking place on 12^th and 13^th of July, with the second legs a week later on the 19^th and 20^th.