Celtic collected three domestic trophies in Brendan Rodgers’ first season at Parkhead.
Daily Mirror columnist Stan Collymore
Stan Collymore has defended Celtic’s achievements this past season, following criticisim of Brendan Rodgers’ side from south of the border and beyond.
Celtic remained unbeaten throughout the 2016-17 Scottish Premiership campaign to win their sixth successive crown – by a margin of 30 points.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers
But the Bhoys’ success has not been universally celebrated, with many outside of Scotland dismissing the country’s top division as a “Mickey Mouse league” or similar.
And Collymore, who has previously admitted his regret at never having played for Celtic during an 11-year career, does not concur with those belittling the Glasgow side.
“Celtic have come in for some stick in recent weeks even though they’ve cleaned up this season,” the pundit wrote in his column for the Daily Mirror [6 June, page 59].
“‘It’s a Mickey Mouse league,’ that type of stuff. But for winning the SPL a year ago they pocketed little more than £2 million – this time out it was a little less than £3 million – and still they competed, pound for pound, against Manchester City in the Champions League group stage.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola with Celtic counterpart Brendan Rodgers
“It’s time we stopped slagging off other countries and asked why, for all their money, Premier League clubs aren’t currently doing much better.”
After reaching the Champions League proper for the first time in three seasons in 2016-17, Celtic are expected to invest their earnings in order to ensure they repeat the feat this time around.
And former loan star Patrick Roberts, who played and scored against parent club City in December, is one player who could arrive at Parkhead in a potential club-record deal.
Ex-Celtic loanee Patrick Roberts
Nevertheless, the Mail reports that Celtic face an anxious wait to learn if the English winger will return.
Can Celtic go one better in their coming Champions League campaign?
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