Celtic told what’s a ‘great pity’ about their Champions League campaign next season

Add as preferred source on Google

The quarter-final campaign of the Champions League is set to get underway on Tuesday night.

The likes of Real Madrid, Arsenal, Inter, Bayern Munich, Aston Villa, Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona will battle it out for Europe’s most coveted prize.

Celtic’s Champions League run ended in February against Bayern Munich in a brutal and heartbreaking fashion.

One thing that can’t be denied is that Celtic showcased progression in Europe, and it’s a great step forward, as well as a signal of positive intent in the long run.

Brendan Rodgers might have watched his side lose to the Premiership’s bottom club, St Johnstone, at the weekend, but it has only delayed the inevitable of the title being delivered.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	CelticCeltic	32	25	3	4	92	21	71	78
2	RangersRangers	32	20	5	7	66	33	33	65
3	HibernianHibernian	32	13	11	8	50	41	9	50
4	AberdeenAberdeen	32	14	7	11	43	47	-4	49

When that happens for Celtic, it usually means a trip straight into the Champions League, and for a chance to further boost those finances and compete with the best of the best.

But the next campaign is going to be slightly different, and the powers that be at Celtic Park have to prepare for it, and also act quickly via the summer transfer market.

• READ MORE: Kieran Tierney Arsenal moment signals Real Madrid snub for Celtic-bound defender after Champions League alert

Celtic’s 2025/26 Champions League campaign

You don’t want to be messing this one up because, not only could it prove to be financially costly, but it will also annoy the fans.

But Celtic will have to qualify for next season’s Champions League campaign and Andy Walker feels it is a ‘great pity’, as he told Go Radio.

The former striker questioned what that would mean for a player like the high-flying Daizen Maeda, but it’s a shame that Scotland’s coefficient has been hit in such a manner that it needs to go down this road.

“Yes, the qualifiers, it’s a great pity that the Scottish champions don’t have direct access to the Champions League,” said Walker.

“I think it’s a better competition with the Scottish champions in it. But, if that’s the way it’s going, and obviously Maeda is one of the biggest players of the season. I think he is a runaway winner of the Player of the Year.

“Whether he wants to stay or not. That remains to be seen. But if he doesn’t, then I am sure Celtic will be doing business and looking for the next one.”

Where does Scotland rank in UEFA’s coefficient ranking?

Say it quietly, but Rangers are the only Scottish team remaining in Europe, and their progression is helping Scotland overall in the coefficient ranking.

But, in recent years, from Hearts to Hibernian, teams across the board haven’t been good enough, and it has resulted in Scotland dropping a few places, hence why the champions now have to qualify.

This is how Scotland’s coefficient ranking looks, before the quarter-final games in Europe can get underway and conclude.