Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer are in agreement about Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic

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Celtic and Brendan Rodgers have a spring in their step ahead of the League Cup final against Rangers on Sunday.

On the domestic stage, you can’t have any complaints because Celtic are unbeaten and only Aberdeen have taken points off them this season.

Then you look towards the revamped Champions League format and the Bhoys making positive noises in that also.

Yes, Brendan Rodgers and Co. will be frustrated with Celtic’s goalless draw against Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday night.

But it shows the progression being made that picking up a point away from home in Europe is seen as a slight negative.

With Celtic pushing towards knockout football in Europe, Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer were in agreement about one thing.

Gary Lineker says new Champions League format has suited Celtic

This new league phase has allowed teams like Celtic to breathe easily because, rather than always being up against teams who are financial miles ahead of you, there is that chance to play teams more on your playing field.

That’s why Rodgers has only witnessed one defeat – that unforgettable night in Dortmund – but the bounce back has been incredible.

Lineker thinks the new format, so far, has been a ‘resounding success’ and those in green and white are a prime example of it, as he told The Rest is Football Podcast.

“Celtic have given themselves a chance,” said Lineker. “Another 0-0. They have had a few of those. Kasper Schmeichel clean sheet yet again. They had one or two near misses.

“But they have a chance of getting in that middle section. Ninth to 24th. The play-off stage. Ninth will play 24th. Tenth will play 23rd and 11th will play 22nd, and so on and so on. It’s what they promised, this competition. They promised jeopardy right till the very end on pretty much every game that’s played.

“We are often critical of things when they fiddle with the game a little bit. The only downside for me will be that the players are being asked to play too much, aside from that, it has been a resounding success and we haven’t got to the really exciting bit which will probably be the last group of matches and then the play-off themselves.”

Alan Shearer expects ‘middle section’ finish for Celtic

Two more games – at a minimum – remain in the Champions League and they will take place after the New Year.

Celtic host Young Boys at the start of 2025 – and given that the Swiss champions have lost every match and are sitting bottom of the group, then you expect nothing but a win here.

Then it’s Celtic’s mouthwatering trip to Aston Villa on January 29, with former England striker Shearer expecting a ‘middle section’ finish in those play-off places.

Shearer added: “Totally agree. I think it has worked very, very well. The excitement going into games. It seems as though, in the vast majority of games, there is always something to play for and there will be right until the very last game because it will be incredibly tight.

“I think for clubs and teams like Celtic, it can give them huge hope and it has suited them because they now have a really good chance of staying in that middle section.”