Chris Sutton states how Celtic are now viewed after performances in the Champions League

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Celtic will have to do things the hard way in the Champions League next season.

It’s only a matter of time before Brendan Rodgers officially guides the team to another Premiership title and it should be confirmed after the split against St Johnstone on April 6.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	CelticCeltic	29	24	3	2	87	17	70	75
2	RangersRangers	29	18	5	6	59	26	33	59
3	HibernianHibernian	29	11	10	8	44	40	4	43
4	AberdeenAberdeen	29	12	6	11	38	46	-8	42

That’s another season in Europe’s elite competition, but Celtic will have to go through a qualifier before the season starts because Scotland’s coefficient has taken a hit.

But the Celtic Park faithful will be looking forward to the next Champions League campaign because there was a lot of excitement in the most recent one.

From Celtic’s memorable win against RB Leipzig to remaining unbeaten at home during the league phase, there was a lot to cheer about.

There was extra pressure on the Bhoys because the Champions League format was revamped and it worked in the club’s favour.

• READ MORE: Alan Shearer states what Celtic will ‘definitely’ do in the Champions League in years to come

Chris Sutton on how Celtic are viewed post-Champions League performances

Celtic’s defeat in Munich was heartbreaking because the players deserved much more than to watch Alphonso Davies equalise right at the death.

But Chris Sutton touched upon how the champions of Scotland are being viewed post that game and the whole season in itself.

The former striker made it clear that it isn’t a ‘we have arrived moment’, but it’s ‘really important’ for the optics that the team made progression, as he told the It’s All Kicking Off Podcast.

“Is Celtic’s performance in the Champions League against Bayern, where they lost narrowly, a watershed?” asked Ian Ladyman.

Sutton responded: “Whether it’s a watershed, I think that performance, we would like to think, and fair play to Rangers as well in the week, beating Fenerbahce.

“But I think that performance from Celtic, at the top end of European football, the Champions League, it should give Celtic confidence because they will win the league this season, if they get through to the competition.

“They have to get through a qualifier next season, that they can compete against the very best. Bayern (are through) against Leverkusen.

“I do think that was a, not we have arrived moment, because they ended up losing. I think the performance was really important for the optics and the way that people would have seen Celtic progress or show progression from the last couple of seasons in the Champions League.”

How Celtic’s Champions League opponents have fared?

Given the format change, Celtic faced more teams than usual this season and it made things a lot more interesting.

From facing Bayern Munich to Slovan Bratislava, there were teams of all shapes and sizes locking horns with Rodgers’ men.

But, with the Champions League at the round of 16 stages, and some of the second legs are yet to be played, how have the teams who faced Celtic fared?