Former Celtic star John Hartson reckons Neil Lennon’s team will be a match for anyone in a tough Europa League group, after the draw was made in Switzerland today.
The Bhoys have been drawn against Sparta Prague, AC Milan and Lille, despite being Pot One seeds heading into today.
It’s about as tough a group as we could’ve possibly got and qualification for the knockout rounds will undoubtedly be a battle.
However, Hartson isn’t too despondent, stating on Twitter: “Tough draw for Celtic, but like they showed last year in the group stage they’re a match for anyone.”
Chris Sutton meanwhile labelled it a ‘great draw’ for his former team.
That came after the outspoken pundit wound up fans of Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City, claiming the Foxes had ‘got away with it’ by avoiding the Scottish champions in the draw as Pot 2 seeds.
That provoked a big reaction from supporters of the English Premier League team, who enjoy an amusing ongoing feud with the former Hoops striker.
Sutton has often stuck up for Celtic during and after the Rodgers to Leicester saga.
It would have been nice going up against a Rodgers team considering how bad they can be in Europe and against Lennon outfits. Alas, it wasn’t to be, and we’ll have to think about getting them in the Round of 32.
Celtic shouldn’t fear anyone going into this group though and Hartson is right to point to last season when the lazy prediction would have been that the Bhoys would struggle against Lazio and Rennes.
Never count the Scottish champions out in a European group stage!
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