After winning a treble last season under Ange Postecoglou, you would have to say that the bar for success next season under Brendan Rodgers is now set fairly high.
Rodgers has returned to Celtic with the aim of not only maintaining our domestic dominance but also asserting ourselves on the European scene.
Celtic have always prided themselves as being a team that is feared on the continent and that is something the Hoops supporters want to see again. So does Brendan Rodgers.
So for Rodgers, what would constitute success next season? A successful defence of the treble? By all accounts, a treble is very hard to come by despite how often Celtic have done in recent seasons.
Or is qualifying for the last 16 in the Champions League something that should be attainable and anything else is regarded as failure? Not so says former Celtic striker, Chris Sutton.
In fact, Sutton doesn’t necessarily believe that not defending the treble successfully should be regarded as a failure. The big Englishman has a more realistic view of what Rodgers should achieve in his first season and would still be regarded as a success.
Sutton said [BBC 606], “Well, the environment in Glasgow is you have to win, second is last.
“He [Brendan Rodgers] has to win the league and has to win a cup. It’s about the next level. Celtic fans want to see their team compete in the Champions League.
“That’s what they want to see. So I’m not saying to a group. I’m saying compete strongly.
“So if Celtic ended up getting through [Champions League] and finishing third and getting into Europa [League], that would be a success, I think.”
That would certainly represent progress in the eyes of the Celtic fans. Any progression in Europe would be regarded as a win for the supporters.
We have been starved of a decent run on the continent for a number of seasons now and a return to the days where Celtic could compete with the likes of Manchester United and Juventus at Celtic Park would certainly be welcomed by all the fans.
But as for domestic success, winning the league is non-negotiable. That has to be a priority for Rodgers and I am sure it is for the Celtic manager.
If I was to choose which cup I would want to win it would have to be the Scottish Cup. It has more prestige and prominence in Celtic’s history.
But in truth, another treble would be nice. We have been spoiled as Celtic supporters over recent years to the point where a clean sweep of all domestic honours seems to be the norm. No pressure Brendan!
In other news, How Peter Lawwell was key in fighting European Super League proposals; Celtic Chairman praised
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