Celtic will head into the Champions League third-round qualifiers when they win the league this season.
Over the last three years, the current Scottish champions have enjoyed direct access to UEFA’s elite tournaments’ lucrative group stages after Celtic won the Scottish Premiership three seasons in a row.
However, next season Celtic will need to negotiate a tricky qualifier if Brendan Rodgers wants to continue to progress in the Champions League.
And that has annoyed former Celtic striker Andy Walker, especially after a recent announcement from the European governing body about the English Premier League.
Andy Walker tells UEFA to deliver for Celtic and Scotland in the Champions League
Celtic enjoyed immense Champions League success this season after qualifying from the new-look league format with wins over the likes of RB Leipzig and an impressive draw against Europa League winners Atalanta.
But the champions-elect could be denied those memorable nights if Celtic fail to negotiate the third-round qualifier and after the EPL were awarded a FIFTH place in the competition, that has angered Walker as he rounds on UEFA.
Walker told The Go Radio Football Show [37m], “I just wish UEFA could recognise the Scottish champions, get them into the Champions League.
“I mean, I’m a big fan of English football, but come on, that’s five places now. You get four in Germany, four in Spain, four in Italy, and four in France.
“The Scottish champions, I think, add to the occasion of the Champions League. Some of the nights, some of the sights and sounds that you see in Glasgow when Europe’s elite come to our city, it’s fabulous.
“And I just wish there was an avenue where the Scottish champions, whoever they are, could get straight into the Champions League.
“I think the competition would be better for it.”
Why Celtic need to negotiate Champions League qualifiers as the Premier League earns five places
Firstly, Scotland’s UEFA coefficient rank of 14th place means that Celtic now needs to negotiate a qualifier after dropping out of the top ten country rankings.
Scotland has 35.5 points, which is 8.35 points behind 10th-placed Turkey on 43.9 points. So why then are England being awarded five places in the elite tournament, as the Scottish champions need to fight for a league place?
The English Premier League were awarded a fifth Champions League spot after Arsenal beat Real Madrid 3-0 at the Emirates in the quarter-final first leg.
It was because of this and English teams’ performances in all of UEFA’s competitions, England were guaranteed a top-two spot in UEFA’s country coefficient rankings alongside Spain, meaning both associations earned a ‘European Performance Spot’ which guaranteed that clubs who finish in 5th place in either La Liga or the EPL qualify for the Champions League tournament.
It’s a ridiculous system that is geared up to benefit Europe’s top five leagues, whilst genuine champions like Celtic are forced to scrap for the recognition they deserve.
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