Celtic have made serious improvement under Brendan Rodgers’ direction this season. Not only did they make it into the Champions League knockout round after more than a decade, but they were also able to compete with a European powerhouse like Bayern Munich and were arguably the better team throughout the two legs, despite some poor finishing and refereeing mistakes.
One also has to consider the poor winter transfer window. Could Rodgers’ side have advanced to the next stage of the competition if they had signed a few more players, especially after Kyogo, Luis Palma, Alex Valle, and others left?
We’ll never know. But let’s hope the club supports Rodgers in the summer transfer window and makes the kind of investment that will help them advance in the Champions League. Celtic’s European success should not be limited to this season.
Also, what are Rodgers’ long-term prospects? As reported by Football Insider, former Tottenham Hotspur custodian Paul Robinson stated:
“I believed Celtic were outstanding in the Champions League.
“That’s another point of contention, whether Brendan Rodgers should have lost the players he did this window without making the investment that they may have desired.
“Could they have beaten Bayern Munich with those players or with a little more investment?
“They were a minute away from going into overtime; who knows what may have occurred then.
“Where they are and where they’ve progressed under Brendan Rodgers is terrific.
“The lack of investment, given that they have investment in the window, is severe.
“But the guys they’ve lost, if they were on that team or squad, could they have progressed to the next level?
“Brendan Rodgers will always be coveted and looked at.
“And because of the finances that are involved in the SPL, other clubs will always have the opportunity to take him away.”
Brendan Rodgers predicted Celtic’s exit following disappointment.
Celtic needs to reinforce several areas over the winter. However, only two signings were made, one on a permanent basis and the other on a deadline day loan deal.
Jota was lured back from Rennes just 18 months after leaving the club. In contrast, Crystal Palace loaned out Jeffrey Schlupp. While the signing did not particularly impress supporters, his superb performance against Bayern Munich, where he faced Michael Olise and Leroy Sane, may have changed many people’s minds.
However, much more is required during the summer months. And Celtic should not wait till they have qualified for the Champions League before making any transfers. They’ve made that mistake many times before and paid the consequences.
