Petrescu backs Celtic to emulate Ajax – but the club should avoid raising expectations

Celtic have been backed to replicate the success of Dutch giants Ajax in the Champions League, but the club must manage expectations carefully.

The Hoops will line up against CFR Cluj tonight in the Champions League and speaking ahead of the game, as reported by the BBC, manager Dan Petrescu believes Neil Lennon’s men could go far in the competition.

They [Ajax] were unbelievable and were a surprise and Celtic should try the same I think. If they get to the group stage, they’ll do well.

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Celtic will certainly be hoping to improve in Europe under Lennon. Some of the best results from his previous spell in charge came under the lights at Parkhead.

Ajax were an inspiration to many teams across the continent but their squad last season were much further down the line in their personal development when compared to Celtic and they should avoid raising expectations unnecessarily.

When you loook back at the Ajax team, the likes of Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt were all at the peaks of their short careers with the Dutch club, a luxury Celtic simply do not have at this moment in time.

Improvement on the European front is a must for Celtic and it will come with time if Lennon is backed by the board.

With new faces coming through the door and a number of players leaving, it will take time for this new side to gel, meaning the club may have to wait a season or two to really see the best of them in Europe.