Can Brendan Rodgers’s Celtic challenge for a place in the last 16 of the Champions League this season?
Celtic are set to feature in the group stage of Europe’s premier club competition for the second successive season.
The Glasgow giants won the first leg of their Champions League playoff tie against FC Astana of the Kazakhstan Premier League 5-0 at Celtic Park last week.
The second leg of the tie will be played on Tuesday evening, and Celtic fans can be optimistic of the team progressing to the group stage.
Barcelona legend Xavi, who won La Liga eight times and the Champions League on four occasions with the Spanish giants, believes that the Hoops can progress to the last 16 of the Champions League this season.
“Their first priority will always be to qualify for the group stages,” the Al Sadd midfielder told The Daily Record.
“But this year I think they can go and look beyond that. They should be looking at progressing out of the group.
“I know how hard it is to win against a strong Celtic team in Glasgow and, if they do well in their home games, then they will stand a chance no matter how strong their group is.”
Xavi’s comments show just how far Celtic have come and the quality they have in their squad. Under Ronny Deila, the Glasgow giants could not even feature in the Champions League group stage.
Rodgers has made a massive impact at Celtic Park, and the fans are certainly enjoying themselves at the moment.
Celtic finished bottom of their group in the Champions League last season, but it was not an embarrassment as they had Barcelona, Manchester City and Borussia Monchengladbach to contend with.
If the Hoops get an easier group this season and are able to get positive results at home, then maybe they could challenge for a place in the last 16 of the Champions League.
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