‘We want to experience that’ - Brown hopes for return to Champions League

By John Reid

July 9, 2019

Celtic skipper Scott Brown has admitted that the Hoops’ failure to qualify for the Champions League last season still rankles with him.

The Hoops lost 3-2 on aggregate to AEK Athens in the third qualifying round last season. As the Hoops begin the epic battle to qualify for this season’s tournament, Brown sounds determined to qualify for the competition once more.

“Thrive off the atmosphere”

(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“A lot of players come to Celtic to see what it’s like at Celtic Park on Champions League nights. The fans thrive off the atmosphere, the players do as well, and we want to experience that again this season” he told the club’s official Twitter account.

It is a big deal for Celtic to qualify for Europe’s premier club competition.

Huge boost financially

(Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images)

Not only for the prestige that it gives to the club, but it is a huge boost financially as well. As Brown is entering into the last few seasons of his career, he will want to experience more of those Champions League nights at Celtic Park that he mentions.

It will be a tough task for the Hoops to make the group stages this season. Four rounds of qualifying, beginning with Tuesday night’s clash against Sarajevo.

Brown sounds determined to get the Hoops back into the group stages though. If more players follow his example, Celtic could return to the competition after a year’s absence.