Celtic should take Rangers Europa League ‘inspiration’ as Champions League progression a ‘tall order’

Celtic should be looking to emulate Rangers’ run to the Europa League final because the Champions League is a ‘tall order’.

Brendan Rodgers is back in the Parkhead hot-seat and made clear his European intentions to better the showings on the continent in recent years, and to improve on what he achieved in his first spell. Celtic experienced group stage football in Europe’s elite competition last season for the first time since Rodgers’ last spell in 2017/18, but found the likes of Real Madrid and RB Leipzig too tough a task and got two points under Ange Postecoglou.

But in the view of former Hoops star Andy Walker, it should be Rangers’ memorable road to the Europa League final in 2022 that acts as ‘inspiration’ for what the Scottish champions can achieve in Europe. The Light Blues under Gio Van Bronckhorst made it to within touching distance of glory, but saw Eintracht Frankfurt crush their dreams with a win via penalty shoot-out in Seville. The pundit, speaking to Go Radio, reckons finishing third in the group and taking the lucrative Champions League prize pot will suffice.

He said: “You really want to be able to improve in Europe. I think what Rangers did a couple of a years ago, getting to the final of the Europa League, I think Celtic have got to be inspired by that, to try and make their mark in Europe, as Brendan Rodgers has said.

“To try and be better. The level of performance last season under Ange Postecoglou was good, they were able to compete with Real Madrid for 45 minutes or even an hour. But they didn’t get many points. You want them to be a lot better. As the fourth group of seeds, you want them to finish third.

“I think it will be a tall order, of course no one knows the draw yet. It would be a tall order to finish second, but if you finish third you’ve got European football and that has to be the aim.”