Champions League 2024-25: Celtic must find steel to compete

Celtic's image as a financial powerhouse grew even stronger when they released their impressive financial results on Monday. With the Champions League now underway, it's time for them to start scoring points.

For over ten years, Celtic's journey in the Champions League group stage has often started with a formidable opponent. They've faced heavyweights like Real Madrid in 2022, Paris St-Germain in 2017, Barcelona in 2016, AC Milan in 2013, and Benfica in 2012 – not quite a giant but strong enough to reach the Europa League finals a few months later.

Celtic has faced this challenge twelve times, losing four games and drawing one. They've never managed to win their opening match in the group stage. However, with the new format in place, there’s a chance that their luck might be turning.

Slovan Bratislava features a mix of players acquired through free transfers, those who’ve come up through their academy, and a few high-profile signings. In contrast, Celtic's team has been put together at a cost of nearly £70 million, which is roughly £67 million more than what their rivals will have invested before their match at Celtic Park on Wednesday night.

Eleven Celtic players were acquired for a total cost that exceeded the combined fees of all Slovan's players. The common discussions about Celtic facing the financial strength of Europe's top clubs aren't relevant here. They haven't had a more favorable match at this point in the tournament since they hosted Aalborg in 2008.

This serves as a warning, indeed. Celtic were the clear favorites. They were awarded a penalty but failed to score. Even with an extra player on the field during the final moments of the game, they couldn't capitalize on the situation. The match finished in a 0-0 draw.

Celtic fans familiar with the club’s recent European journey are likely staying cautious, but the Champions League draw and the upcoming match schedule present Brendan Rodgers' team with a fantastic chance to kick off this tournament on a high note for once.

It's an opportunity they can't pass up. In their own environment, Celtic is expected to outperform Slovan easily.

Rodgers' team is showing promising signs. They're playing at a faster pace compared to last season, and their pressing, effort, and creativity are all looking strong. Their signings have been solid, and there's a sense of confidence in their demeanor.

The important thing to note is that we're assessing them based on their performance at home, which has proven to be an unreliable measure in the past.

Are Celtic just dominating weaker opponents? We'll soon find out in Europe. This is where they will face real challenges, unlike in Scotland where they are almost guaranteed to win the Premiership. The Champions League will reveal both Celtic's true abilities and the effectiveness of Rodgers as a coach.

His strong performance at home has secured his legacy within the club, but Rodgers’ achievements with Celtic in European competitions leave much to be desired. In his time as manager, he has overseen 18 Champions League group matches, with only two victories, 12 losses, and four draws.

His team has netted 15 goals while allowing 49. Within that record, there are losses like 5-0, 6-0, 7-0, and 7-1. It's an odd contradiction that some of Celtic's most significant defeats in Europe have occurred under one of their most effective leaders.

Considering Europa League matches, Rodgers has a European track record at Celtic of six victories, 18 defeats, and four draws out of 28 games. He has expressed a strong desire to build on that performance. It's clear that this isn't just a mere wish; it's a passionate drive to restore Celtic's significance on the European stage.

As long as they don't take action, their shortcomings will continue to be criticized. There have been numerous games that no one anticipated Celtic to triumph in, but there were also several they could have secured a victory in but fell short for different reasons.

Here are the key takeaways for this campaign: they need to embrace discipline, focus, and a fierce determination. It's time to tap into their aggressive side—think of a Rottweiler instead of a poodle.

In their previous season, they received two red cards while playing away at Feyenoord in their first match, resulting in a 2-0 defeat. At home, they fell to Lazio with a last-minute loss. They managed to take the lead twice against Atletico Madrid, yet ended up with a 2-2 draw. In matches against Madrid, they allowed three goals in just 16 minutes, and in Rome, they conceded two goals within three minutes.

Rodgers' teams have struggled with a tendency to give up leads repeatedly. During the Europa League in the final season of his first tenure in 2018-19, they let in two goals in just six minutes against Salzburg, followed by another two in four minutes against Leipzig and two more in seven minutes against Valencia.

In other Champions League matches, they let in two goals within two minutes and another two in six minutes on the same evening against PSG. Granted, it was PSG, but they needed to show some real determination, and Rodgers' squad fell short.

In the second leg, they conceded two goals in just four minutes and followed that with another two in six minutes. Back in 2016, they let in three goals within a span of 10 minutes against Barcelona and took the lead three times against Manchester City, only to have the score equalized each time. Although a 3-3 draw was a solid outcome, there was a chance it could have been even better.

During his time in the Champions League, Ange Postecoglou faced a recurring problem with his team allowing goals in quick succession. While these moments are from the past, the missed chances from last season highlight that this issue is still pertinent today.

Rodgers has always been inclined to have his team play with an attacking style, but he now needs to incorporate a pragmatic approach into their strategy. While offense is important, stubbornness and resilience are equally essential. In the cutthroat environment of European competitions, there's no shame in securing victories through tough, gritty performances.

Celtic should secure a victory on Wednesday evening—whether it's pretty or not doesn't really matter. However, what more can they accomplish in the coming months? They have some talented players, but if they want to land a solid spot for the playoffs—something that's definitely within reach—they'll need to show teamwork and determination.

Catch the key moments from every Champions League match starting at 10:00 PM on Wednesday, available on BBC iPlayer, as well as the BBC Sport website and app.

On Wednesday, BBC One will air a Champions League Match of the Day from 10:40 PM to midnight.