Brendan Fraudgers!

That isn't a problem my friend, that is the whole ethos of this club. We are much more than just the football.

Foodbanks, Charity Drives, Integrated ethic football tournaments, Irish Music in the stands, the pubs and clubs, everywhere Celtic oriented you go actually.

So you are absolutely right, it is about much more than the football for the rest of us.

 

I genuinely nearly fell asleep reading this pish

 

‘And I’m the Pope’ is actually a sarcastic rejoinder, responding to one improbable statement with another. It’s used by many English speakers, not just Celtic supporters.

It’s interesting that you chose to attack a poster’s use of language for referencing the Catholic faith.

 

In the words of Jim Royale

CELTIC FAN MY *

 

Does he still play for us

 

He should certainly start seeing more game time as the season goes on now he over his injuries. If everyone is fit, I don't see him taking Ntcham's position and certainly not Brown's in European games though.

 

Big teams are gonna hump us in the CL, that's just a fact of life. You ask any Celtic fan at the start of the season if they'd take an unbeaten domestic record and a spot in the Europa League last 32 going into January, how do you reckon that would go down?

So we get * skelped by Arab Oil FC and Bayern. A lesser manager would have finished bottom of that group. Besides my main point about the winter break was that it is * NEEDED. We're not even half way through the season and it feels like this HUGE adventure already. I can only imagine how draining physically and mentally it has been for this squad. My point is that we're DUE that 3 week rest - some players have barely had time off since last season with international fixtures. After the winter break I reckon we'll be back to playing with a sharpness and freshness. Whoever we get in the EL last 32, * bring em on.

 

Auf Wiedersein Wilhelm

 

BRENDAN RODGERS has revealed he won’t be splashing out on a big-name signing to bolster Celtic’s Europa League campaign.

The Hoops squeezed into Monday’s last-32 draw in Nyon by finishing third in their Champions League section.

Celtic will now come up against one of the 12 Europa League group winners or one of the four top Champions League drop-outs.

As a non-seeded team, the likes of Arsenal, Lazio, Zenit St Petersburg, AC Milan, CSKA Moscow or Atletico Madrid could lie in wait.

Manager Rodgers has vowed to make sure his team is better prepared for the first knockout clash in February even if his dealing during next month’s transfer window will be prudent rather than spectacular.

He said: “We will always rely on the collective, we will always rely on the team. There won’t be one player at this level who is a massive stand-out. Our star is the team. That is the way it will always be.

“I am pretty clear where we are at as a squad and I am also realistic about what we can bring in.

“The challenge here is always to push and be the very best we can be despite the resources we have.

“At this level (Champions League) we are nowhere near it. But we have to find a way and try to represent Celtic and the nation the best we can.”

Celtic had to contend with Bayern Munich and PSG but the Europa League won’t be much easier if they are paired with another heavy-weight, such as Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal.

Rodgers feels his team can mount a challenge if harsh lessons learned from losing five of their six Champions League group games can be learned.

He added: “We will play against a tough opponent whoever we play. Let us learn the lessons from the six games we have had here.

“But they have absolutely earned the right to go there.

“We want to be better, we want to improve, we have made strides in the last 18 months which have been incredible.

“We have qualified for the Europa League last 32 where the club hasn’t been for a number of years.

“We are disappointed we lost the game against Anderlecht. That is a really good sign for me. It is good that we put that demand on ourselves to be better.

“When it comes around in February we will be better again.

“For us to come through the group and get into the Europa League is a big achievement for us.”

 

Ah * there was me expecting Gerard Pique

 

I * love Brendan Rodgers, and one poor night against Anderlecht certainly won't change that!

 

I seen the gif the other night but I just realised who posted it.

Well played @Celtic Mad , well played.

 

Put yer tongue away man ffs

 

* off. It was the timing of it. Rocketbhoys card was marked and the hammer was being forged.

Kinda poetic.

 

Aye its ALL in the timing mate ..

 

No.

 

BR: "I’m really looking forward to going to Easter Road. Tuesday night was our fourth game in nine days and they’ve all been really physically taxing games. The only benefit of going into this game on Sunday is we’ve had a bit more time to prepare."

BR: "I went to Hibs last year and I thought the atmosphere was brilliant. Neil’s done an outstanding job there with being unbeaten away from home and at Easter Road it’s always going to be a tough game."

BR: "We’re very much looking forward to it. We know of the challenge from the two games we’ve played against them this season. We always go into it with the confidence that if we play to our level it gives us a really good chance to get a result.

BR: "I thought Hibs played very well at Celtic Park. You could see the qualities in their team and the energy and intensity that they play with. I felt in the semi-final we were dominant for large parts of that game and we came through in the end."

BR: "They have some very good players and quality. They work very hard, they're committed and they have quality. They have an outstanding manager who will always want to win."

BR: "We’ve always had the reaction from the players. After the Champions League games, it doesn’t matter if the result’s been good or bad, we always go into the next game with a real freshness and energy to get a good result."

BR: "It wasn’t the most desirable result in midweek but we got to the Europa League. I have a brilliant group of players who are very honest and we know where we are in terms of the reality of modern football."

BR: "We’re always learning and not just in the Champions League. We learn from our domestic games here like the games against Motherwell. You’re constantly evolving as a coach, as a manager and as a player."

BR: "That doesn’t stop and that’s something we always talk about here. We are focused on constant improvement and that’s something we must look to do even in our strongest moments."