Come Alive

 

Watching Celtic sweep Hearts aside yesterday was very encouraging for the fans. The Gorgie side have given Celtic some problems this season and it was a measure of how Celtic’s form has improved that they defeated them so comprehensively. The team is hitting some semblance of form at just the right time and key players are returning to match sharpness. Matt O’Riley reminded us why he is a player the likes of Atletico Madrid would be interested in; his pass for Kyogo’s second goal was sublime. The Japanese striker looked more like the player he was last season and demonstrated that with the right service he can find the net regularly.

May is always the time when all the big issues are sorted out in the football leagues around Europe and through all the ups and downs of a season, it’s when the players and fans know exactly what needs to be done. Here in Scotland, the title race is close, more down to Celtic spilling silly points against the likes of Motherwell, St Johnstone and Kilmarnock than any brilliance on the part of Rangers. Celtic has taken 7 points in the three derby games and that has made up for dropping points in other games but in truth, neither side has been particularly brilliant this season. Most Hoops fans know there will need to be a major reboot at Celtic in the summer. That being said, there is a job to do in these remaining three league matches and it could have major implications for the next few years.

The format for the Champions league will change from the current group set up to an expanded 36 team league. UEFA explain it like this…

‘From the 2024/25 season, 36 clubs will participate in the Champions League ‘league phase’ (former group stage), giving four more sides the opportunity to compete against the best clubs in Europe. Those 36 clubs will participate in a single league competition in which all 36 competing clubs are ranked together. Under the new format, teams will play eight matches in the new league phase (former group stage). They will no longer play three opponents twice – home and away – but will instead face fixtures against eight different teams, playing half of those matches at home and half of them away. To determine the eight different opponents, the teams will initially be ranked in four seeding pots. Each team will then be drawn to play two opponents from each of these pots, playing one match against a team from each pot at home, and one away.’

Thus, the Scottish Champions this season will gain direct entry to the new set up and the chance to play 8 matches against 8 of the best sides in Europe. A club like Celtic can make in excess of £3m in ticket sales and marketing from one UCL home match. Add four such home games to over £30m from UEFA for competing in the new ‘Champions League Phase’ and you can see that the financial rewards for winning this season’s title are considerable.

In the Scottish context, competing in the Champions League is a massive boost to turnover. The money it is projected to earn would greatly enhance the spending power of Celtic and help fund the refreshing of the playing squad for next season. Celtic therefore know what is at stake in the remaining three league matches of the season. Not only can they greatly boost their own financial muscle for the coming season; they can also deal a body-blow to their main rivals if they push on and seal the title.

Brendan Rodgers is no fool, he will have seen the shortcomings in the squad this year and will know where things need to improve. He prides himself on being an elite manager and will want to build a positive legacy at the club. The Board would be well advised to back his ambition as the fans will not be happy that they are sitting on a pile of cash as the quality of the first team stagnates or even deteriorates.  

Whatever happens this season, there can be no standing still. We all want the best for Celtic and we are honest enough to know this has not been a vintage season. Injuries, loss of form and some good players moving on has meant the free-flowing football of the Postecoglou era hasn’t been replicated this season. Rodgers will do it his way and it’s up to the board to give him the tools to get the job done.

A year ago, Celtic won the cup final with players like Jota, Starfelt, Hart and O’Riley in the side. Jota and Starfelt are gone, and it is possible that Matt O’Riley will move on to pastures new in the summer. He will go with our thanks, but he must be replaced with a player of equal stature. Joe Hart too is coming to the end of a tremendous career and we can hopefully send him off with another medal or two. It is an old cliché that a good goalkeeper is worth a dozen points a season, so Celtic need to identify a player who inspires confidence for that key position soon.

Brendan Rodgers said recently that Celtic ‘come alive’ in this part of the season and the signs have been there in recent weeks that he is right. It won’t always be free-flowing football but they’ve been over the course before and know what it takes to get the job done. The winning post is in sight and Celtic have got their noses in front. We now face our biggest rivals in a match that could well decide the issue. With 60,000 Celtic fans roaring the team on, I remain confident that they’ll get the job done.