Celtic fans are still celebrating their incredible treble-treble, but the focus will soon turn towards next season and qualifying for Europe over the summer. The draw for the first qualifying round is on June 18th and the Bhoys will be desperate to avoid their fat from last season when they fell to AEK Athens in the 3rd round qualifier.
The Hoops exit the @ChampionsLeague in Athens.#AEKCEL #UCL pic.twitter.com/jt9I8NVjwW
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) August 14, 2018
The Bhoys were held to a 1-1 draw at Parkhead in their first clash with their Greek opposition before losing 2-1 away on the continent to put themselves into the Europa League instead of the Champions League. AEK Athens went on to get battered by Bayern Munich, Ajax and Benfica, losing all six games, so you could argue Celtic avoided a worse fate than what they got.
However, the Champions League is the dream for the Hoops, and even if they find themselves stuck in a group of death and get played off the park six times out of six and fail to even finish 3rd and drop into the Europa League, the top table is the aim. This summer will be no different, but they will have to avoid falling to a similar fate that they did last season.
You can see what the Bhoys had to say upon losing to AEK here:
https://twitter.com/1888Rhys/status/1029456975019565056
You gambled by not sorting the defence. You reap what you sow. Once again we fail to build on a position of strength. And once again we’re left disappointed.
— Champions IAR x (@SBTbhoy) 14 August 2018
Got what we deserved for not SIGNING a defender!
— Chris Mcateer (@chrismcateer1) 14 August 2018
https://twitter.com/chrissyallan89/status/1029617726694875136
Unnecessary and all our own fault. The directors are useless.
— Clashbash2 Celtic and JC (@Clashbash2) 14 August 2018
Absolute joke, no investment by the board or any interest in moving the club forward
— RonanDobbins (@ronandobbins) August 14, 2018
Investment was needed no matter how strong we are domestic but that’s how it goes hopefully we can recognise these mistakes for the next stage our European campaign and the board will get the dosh out that we have to spend. Send on the Europa
— Nathan (@nath_murphy) 14 August 2018
Absolute disgrace, that's what happens when you let fellas leave and go back to their respective clubs from loan deals and then buy no1 to replace. Going to be a struggle for us this season.
— Benny (@HaaMortaL) August 15, 2018
— Dominic Kay (@DKay93) August 14, 2018
https://twitter.com/Diarmuidmac88/status/1029456950709370880
The Bhoys are desperate to avoid last summer’s fate this time around and will hope that they can finally make their return to Europe’s top footballing table.
Celtic fans, do you think you’ll make it to the Champions League group stages this season? Let us know!
