As Celtic gears up to kick off their Scottish title defense and confront a crucial Champions League qualifying play-off, the pressing question arises: how well-prepared are they to expand upon their recent achievements and make further strides this season?
Recently, conversations among Celtic fans have centered around recruitment strategies in light of key player departures. Concerns have been voiced regarding potential deficiencies in the squad, a sentiment echoed by manager Brendan Rodgers, who remarked on Friday that there are “obvious gaps in the squad.”
Though the transfer window remains open for some time, heightened competition from Rangers and a strong desire to sustain participation in elite European football raises the question: are Celtic ready to tackle the immediate challenges that lie ahead?
Rodgers has identified European advancement as a critical goal since rejoining the club. Last season, he made notable progress, narrowly missing out on a last-16 place in the Champions League after pushing Bayern Munich in a tense play-off.
Celtic’s participation at that high level will be contingent upon the outcome of the forthcoming play-off in less than a month. Failure to qualify would represent a significant disappointment.
With only a year remaining in Rodgers’ three-year deal, the developments over the next few weeks could significantly influence his commitment to continuing this upward trajectory.
Despite asserting his “great happiness” at Celtic, the 52-year-old Northern Irish coach highlighted that he is “not the kind of manager” who remains when a club is simply maintaining the status quo, stating there is “no update” regarding a contract extension.