KR Reykjavik manager Runar Kristinsson once questioned why his side were even playing Celtic back in 2014.
Indeed, Kristinsson was the manager of KR when Ronny Deila first arrived at Celtic Park just over six years ago. Deila’s Hoops would eventually win the Champions League qualifying tie 5-0 on aggregate after a 1-0 success in Iceland and a 4-0 rout at Murrayfield. The two clubs have been drawn once again in the first qualifying round of the Champions League this season.
Back in 2014, Celtic only had to play three qualification matches to make the Champions League. That was something Kristinsson couldn’t get his head around.
Nowadays, current boss Neil Lennon has to go through four qualification ties to seal a spot in Europe’s elite club competition. And, speaking to the Daily Mail before that tie back in 2014, Kristinsson defended the idea of Celtic not having to play so many qualifiers.
“I am very surprised Celtic are playing us so early in this competition. I don’t know why it is, but maybe it’s because the other clubs in Scotland are not doing as well as they should in Europe. Celtic are very close to being a group-stage team.
“They absolutely should not be playing us at this stage of the competition. They should be waiting for the next rounds.”
Things could be about to change
Not having to play an extra qualifier to get into the Champions League would be golden for Celtic. And that will be the case next season so long as Switzerland doesn’t overtake Scotland as the 15th best-ranked nation in UEFA’s Coefficient rankings (BBC).
Even if that’s the case, however, is still takes us back to the status quo of six years ago. We would still have to face three qualifiers – a route that KR manager Kristinsson still found perplexing.
Regardless, for now, Lennon’s Bhoys have to crack on, and the Hoops should be dismantling KR at Parkhead with relative ease.
The Icelandic outfit will come to Glasgow as heavy underdogs, and rightly so. Celtic will have a point to prove in Europe this season after an anti-climactic exit in last year’s Europa League to FC Copenhagen.
With a bit of luck, however, this will be the last time our entry into group-stage European competition will take so long.
In other news, we discuss why today’s 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock has ensured Celtic can’t allow this key centre-back to leave.
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