Brendan Rodgers and Celtic are focused on securing their Champions League spot for next season. Despite their current success, the club is actively preparing for the upcoming qualifying rounds by making key transfers and ensuring a comprehensive pre-season.
Brendan Rodgers takes his team to Aston Villa still with ambitions for Champions League success this season. However, the recent arrival of Jota in January and other key transfers signal that preparations are well underway for next season's decisive summer qualifying rounds. These matches will determine whether Celtic's progress in the competition is maintained or squandered. The simple truth is, Celtic cannot advance further in the Champions League unless they secure qualification.
Crucially, Rodgers and his team need to be ready for the potential make-or-break qualifiers for the 2025/26 season.Celtic have faced these high-stakes qualifying rounds in the past, with Rodgers experiencing both triumphs and setbacks. He has a 2-1 success rate in these qualifiers, but each one presented unique challenges. In his first attempt, Rodgers navigated a depleted backline, overcoming Lincoln Red Imps and Astana before securing a hard-fought victory against Hapoel Be'er Sheva in Israel. The following campaign saw Kristoffer Ajer deployed in a reshuffled defense against Rosenborg, ultimately leading to a play-off berth where Astana was again defeated. However, the third qualifying attempt proved too much for Celtic, as they faltered against AEK Athens. Young Jack Hendry was thrust into the defense, while Dedryck Boyata declared himself unavailable and Moussa Dembele expressed his desire to leave. Celtic faced a recurring issue of player absences, departures, and makeshift solutions in defense. Nir Bitton, often answering the SOS, was called upon to fill the center-back position during crucial qualifiers.Looking ahead, Rodgers is meticulous in his planning and will aim to have his squad as finalized as possible by the summer, ensuring they are fully prepared throughout pre-season. This comprehensive preparation will be crucial for the upcoming qualifying rounds. With no major international tournaments this summer, the team can dedicate the initial weeks to intensive training and bonding, unlike previous seasons. The sale of Kyogo mid-season, while seemingly unusual, offers a strategic advantage. Without the need to qualify this term, Celtic could afford to wait until later to finalize Adam Idah's transfer, leaving Kyogo as the lone recognized striker for most of August. This scenario cannot be repeated ahead of a crucial qualifying campaign.Kyogo's departure allows for the signing of a new striker who can seamlessly integrate with the squad during the second half of this season and be fully prepared for the following campaign with a full pre-season under his belt. Jota's return provides ample time for him to regain match sharpness following periods of inactivity in Saudi Arabia and France. Tierney's arrival, if not already completed, is expected by the summer, alleviating any goalkeeping concerns with Schmeichel's contract extension. Celtic, recognizing the complexities of the summer transfer window and the tendencies of larger leagues to delay business, have historically been caught unprepared. However, they are determined to be fully equipped for the upcoming qualifiers, ensuring that any failure is not attributed to a lack of preparation.Given the remarkable moments and experiences of this season's Champions League campaign, their desire to build upon this foundation and make further strides in the competition is understandable. Celtic have earned both financial rewards and prestige by reaching the play-off stage. Most importantly, they have restored their pride at Europe's highest level.Regardless of the outcome at Villa Park this season, Rodgers and the club are committed to continuing their progress and pushing for even greater achievements in the Champions League
CELTIC BRENDAN RODGERS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFIERS TRANSFER JOTA KYOGO KASPER SCHMEICHEL KIERAN TIERNEY
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