Rodgers sets his target for European football next season

Brendan Rodgers is setting his sights on European football in 2018 next season at Celtic after signing off his first season in charge unbeaten domestically.

After reaching the group stages of the Champions League at the first time of asking, the Irishman will look to progress further in the competition in the near future.

In Celtic’s way will be three testing qualifying rounds, but Rodgers is hopeful his side will overcome that challenge and progress.

Speaking to the Evening Times, he said:

We want to quality first and foremost. That will always be a challenge. Then we have to try and see what we can do. You have to be careful and recognise where we are. We’re 10 times behind budget-wise. You have to be realistic.

The gauge for us is to measure calmly once we’ve qualified. We would like to be in Europe for the second part of the season, whatever competition that’s in, and that’s a huge, huge ask for a club like ourselves.

Securing two points in the home and away tie against Manchester City and another point away in Germany against Borussia Monchengladbach laid the foundations for progress in Europe.

There were also painful lessons to be learned – most notably the opening fixture of the group at the Camp Nou – which served as a lesson to Rodgers and his players on how not to defend away from home against one of Europe’s elite teams.

Rodgers secured a first domestic treble since 2001 for the club and the fourth in the clubs history after a late winner from Australian midfielder Tom Rogic.

Celtic will now take a well earned break after playing 59 games this season in four different competitions as Rodgers takes a well earned break before he begins his preparations for his second season in charge.