Sutton compares Celtic CL campaigns under Rodgers

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Celtic booked their place in the last 32 of the Europa League on Tuesday night.

Celtic icon Chris Sutton has questioned whether this season’s Champions League showing was any better than his former side’s efforts in 2016-17 on BT Sport, despite going one better and qualifying for the Europa League.

The Hoops qualified for the last 32 of the latter competition after Christmas despite losing 1-0 to Anderlecht on Tuesday night, as they were tasked with avoiding a loss of three or more goals.

Jozo Simunovic scored an own goal in the second half to give Anderlecht the lead, but Hein Vanhaezebrouck’s side could not increase their tally laving the Hoops to qualify in third place of Group B.

In what is an improvement in terms of qualifying for European football after Christmas, Sutton believes the Hoops still have plenty of work to do and compared this campaign to last season.

“Something which worried me, was listening to the players interviewed after the PSG game,” Sutton said. “I don’t believe this Celtic team, when they stand in the tunnel next to the big teams, that they can believe they can win a game.

“That’s what I’ve taken from this season’s campaign. Yes it’s great, they’ve performed well at Anderlecht. But we have to be honest, is it better than last season’s campaign an the high of Man City? Celtic still have a lot of work to do.

“When you’ve been thumped 7-1 [by PSG], I don’t want to hear about how good the opposition have been. I would be disappointed in my team’s performance. When you stand in the tunnel, you have to have that inner belief, and I think they’re lacking that.”

Celtic conceded 12 goals in two games to Unai Emery’s PSG, as well as suffering two defeats to Bayern Munich as the gap between Europe’s elite and the best of the Scottish Premiership is made evident once again.

Brendan Rodgers must dust his side down from their disappointing result on Tuesday night as they prepare to face Neil Lennon’s Hibernian at Easter Road in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off.