Celtic start their Champions League campaign tonight against Feyenoord in Rotherham. This will be the last season of the current CL format.  UEFA will replace it with a new format from next season. The group stages as we know them will be replaced with a 36 team league structure.

Is the new format to counter anymore challenges from the clubs wanting to breakaway and form a European Super League?  Is it to appease those clubs who threatened to break away from UEFA? Or is it in response to the new 32 team World Club Championships set for the summer of 2025?

The new World tournament is set to be bankrolled by the Saudi Wealth Fund, so will this lead to the Saudi teams being eventually invited into the Champions League at the expense of  less well off league champions based in Europe.

Remember when Celtic won the European Cup in Lisbon in 1967 it was a competition open only to the Champions of each domestic league in Europe.

The new format will see teams play eight matches, two more than they currently play. Teams will play four home and four away games against different opposition. The top 8 teams will go straight into last 16. The teams placed between ninth and 24^th in the table will then take part in a playoff round.

In a move to secure more places for the super rich leagues like the EPL etc., the two spots reserved for historical performance of teams in the competition will be replaced by the leagues with the best coefficient.

Club managers will not be too happy with their players having to play more games in the new format as 189 games will replace the current 125 in the competition. Squad and young players may be used for domestic cup competitions to keep players fresh for the big money games.

The four seeded pots will still remain but the domestic champions will not be guaranteed a spot at the top table. Now it will be based on the coefficient which again will favour the EPL teams. The new group stages/ league format will see the final matches take place in January (possibly during the SPFL shut down).

Teams in the CL will no longer have the chance to play in the Europa League, when you are out you are out. Two teams from each pot will play each other in the new league structure after the draw is made. After that the knockout stages teams will be seeded to make it easier for the big hitters to get to the final.

Andrew Milne is More than 90 Minutes Editor and host of the Celtic Soul Podcast 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I did not take my usual seat at Celtic Park in the Main Stand on Saturday. There were no buses, planes or airport pints. Instead my pre-match was a swim in the Spanish sea and a cup of coffee in the sun before getting a taxi to Paddy’s Point home of the Paddy’s Point CSC.

It was standing room only as holiday makers wearing the famous green and white hoops  joined the supporters club members who have made this part of the Costa their home. Before the game in Glasgow flyers were circulated by one of Celtic’s Ultra Groups, the Green Brigade/ North Curve.

Link to video at end of article to Barry from One Celtic Fans View video about the full statement. Barry is a regular at Paddy’s on match day and had been a Celtic Youtuber for many years.

Celtic as expected controlled most of the ball in the first half but headed back to the dressing room at half time with little to show for all the domination.

The mood remained confident among the Celtic fans gathered inside and outside the pub at half time. I had a quick look on social media during the break and viewed a mixed bag of comments regarding our first half performance.

Supporters Club t-shirts were on sale at half time which make nice gifts for like minded mates. Former Celtic player Andy Lynch who lives close by pops in and out to watch games and Alan Thompson has become a regular when visiting this part of the Spanish coast.

The second half was much better with 3 goals to celebrate which had me off my high stool and celebrating. David Turnbull opened the scoring from the penalty spot after a VAR check to make sure the Celtic player was in the box when he was taken down by Ryan Howley.

Kyogo doubled Celtic’s lead when he headed home from 12 yards after a great ball into him from Callum McGregor. He then turned from poacher to supplier when he cut the ball back to Matt O’Reilly to secure a comfortable victory for the bhoys.

At full time money was collected for the supporters club trip to Madrid for the Atletico game. You could hear the members chatting about train times, hotels and what part of the city they were staying in. They invited me to travel up with them but I have alternative arrangements made but I hope to meet up with them for a few beers pre or post match.

Nothing beats being at a Celtic game in the flesh home or away but pubs and supporters clubs around the globe are so important to bring Celtic fans together for a match day experience.

I have no doubt it will be another busy night at Paddy’s when I return on Tuesday to watch Celtic take on Feyenoord.

Andrew Milne is Editor of More than 90 Minutes and host of the Celtic Soul Podcast 

James McClean  appeared on the Late Late Show last night for an interview with the new host Patrick Kielty

It did not surprise me to learn that this was the Irish international football stars first appearance on the show. James’s view on the North of Ireland would not have sat well with the out going crew of media gangsters who controlled who would appear on the prime time show in the past.

James is booed in every ground in England for his stance on wearing the Poppy and tonight he did not shy away from who he is and where he is from and what happened in his home city of Derry and the crimes that were inflicted on the community by the forces of the crown.

Now plying his trade at Wrexham. He spoke about the sectarian abuse he has received while playing in England, his daughter and his own autism diagnosis and was very diplomatic when asked about Ireland manager, Stephen Kenny.

The new presenter of the show knows what it is like to grow up in the North. His father, Jack was shot dead by the UFF/UDA IN 1988.

Andrew Milne is Editor of More than 90 Minutes and host odd the Celtic Soul Podcast

 

Celtic return to action against Dundee at another SOLD OUT Celtic Park. Liel Abada could be out for the next four months after picking up an injury away on international duty. Brendan Rodgers spoke highly of him in his pre-match press conference.

Abada’s injury will now give someone else a chance to come in and show that he is capable of becoming a first team regular and nailing down a regular starting place.

Reo Hatate is available for selection and should make a return to the hoops. BR has had little luck with injuries since the start of the season but he remains upbeat with the players he has fit and has been impressed by the attitude.

Celtic fans are buzzing for the game on the back of the win at Ibrox against the rangers. Lets hope they can play like they did in the first half over the city when we controlled the game comfortably and showed plenty of fighting spirit in the second half to come away with all 3 points.

Celtic should take care of Dundee but we can expect them to park the bus, slow the game down and waste as much time as possible, in the hope that they can frustrate Celtic and the fans inside the stadium.

Dundee will have watched how St. Johnstone lined up and were able to leave Celtic Park with a point. When the final whistle blows all thoughts will turn to the tough task that’s lies ahead in Holland against Feyenoord.

Andrew Milne is More than 90 Minutes Editor and the host of the Celtic Soul Podcast 

Celtic Football Club is delighted to announce that it has today approved significant investment into a state-of-the-art re-development of Celtic’s Barrowfield Training Centre, in the heart of the East End of Glasgow, as we aim to continue to create Celtic’s stars of the future.

The development will deliver a fantastic new complex, hosting Celtic’s boys’ and girls’ Academies and will also be the new dedicated training centre for Celtic FC Women’s First Team.

Today’s announcement re-emphasises our strategy of maintaining a strong commitment to both developing our own players and investing in women’s football, with the project representing the largest infrastructure investment by the Club since the redevelopment of Celtic Park in the late 1990s.

The new training centre will feature:

• New indoor arena, featuring full-sized IFA-approved artificial surface
• Combination of outdoor natural grass and artificial pitches
• State-of-the-art gym/fitness facilities
• Celtic Academy and Celtic FC Women office areas
• New changing facilities
• Medical suites for player treatment/rehab
• Sports science centre
• Analysis centre
• Classroom/learning facilities

To read more click link

https://www.celticfc.com/news/2023/september/15/celtic-s-fantastic-new-training-complex-gets-the-green-light/

The international break is over and Celtic get back to business this Saturday against Dundee. Media reports are suggesting that Liel Abada has picked up an injury while away on international duty with Israel and he could be ruled out for the next 5 months.

Confidence should be high after our last outing at Ibrox and Brendan Rodgers has a number of players returning from injury to bolster his selection options.

He will also have the services of Liverpool loanee Nat Philips who was unveiled yesterday to the Celtic fan media and is expected to play on Saturday. He has settled in well at the club and is looking forward to playing regularly after playing a bridesmaid role at his parent club.

He watched the rangers game from the media room at Ibrox and was impressed with how his new team mates dealt with the pressure in the second half to bring all 3 points back to the East end of Glasgow.

The manager also spoke midweek and said that the rangers win will mean nothing if we don’t beat Dundee and he is confident the team will only improve.

It was interesting to hear Brendan compare the St. Johnstone draw to the defeat in the Champions League qualifier away to Gibraltar Minnows, Red Imps.

I was at that game. The game was played on a terrible plastic pitch in high temperatures and Celtic were comfortable winners in the return leg at Celtic Park. After dropping points to St, Johnstone Celtic fans booed and vented their anger and it was the same in Gibraltar on that sweltering hot evening.

Another Celtic Manager who will be happy with his players is Fran Alonso the Celtic Women’s team came back from 2 goals down to win 3-2 last night.

The transfer window may be shut but the rumours are still circulating around who may or may not be coming to Celtic Park in January. Liverpool’s Irish international goalkeeper, Caoimhin Kelleher continues to be linked with a move to Paradise.

Andrew Milne is Editor of More than 90 Minutes Celtic Fanzine & host of the Celtic Soul Podcast 

This international break Celtic will have 11 players on duty with their countries. Hopefully they all come back fit and pick up no injuries as we bask in the September sun after beating the rangers on Sunday.

It was a sweet victory. Celtic went into the game with a long list of injuries and on the back of two poor performances. The team Brendan Rodgers put out controlled the first half and Callum McGregor looked back to his best.

The second half, the home side piled on the pressure but Celtic stood tall. Joe Hart was once again in top form and Liam Scales put in a man of the match performance.

With no away support last Sunday to cheer on the bhoys. It was a day for men who were willing to get stuck in and the players did not let us down.

It was encouraging to hear the manager say after the game that we will only get better.

Those away on international duty

Callum McGregor (Scotland)  v Cyprus & England

Liel Abada (Israeli) v Romania & Belarus

Gustaf Lagerbielke (Sweden) v  Estonia & Austria

Luis Palma (Honduran) v Guatemala

Kyogo and Daizen Maeda (Japan) v Germany & Saudi Arabia

Hyeokkyu Kwon (South Korea U23’s) v Qatar & Kyrgyzstan

Odin Thiago Holm (Norway U21’s) v San Marino & Latvia

Paulo Bernardo (Portugal U21’s) v Andorra

 

 

A week is a long time in football and what a week it was finished off in style at Ibrox by Kyogo. What a goal and a performance from MOTM Liam Scales. Nothing hurts them more than a Fenian running the show.

We also saw the transfer window closed and another 3 players added to the squad.

The Champions League draw took place on Thursday in Monaco. Celtic were drawn in Group E with Feyenoord, Lazio and Atletico Madrid.

We had to wait till Saturday morning to start making travel arrangements and now another piece of the jigsaw is in place with Celtic announcing ticket details for season ticket holders for the 3 home game match package.

GROUP STAGE FIXTURES CONFIRMED

• Tuesday, September 19, Feyenoord away, kick-off 8pm
• Wednesday, October 4, Lazio home, kick-off 8pm
• Wednesday, October 25, Atletico Madrid home, kick-off 8pm
• Tuesday, November 7, Atletico Madrid away, kick-off 8pm
• Tuesday, November 28, Lazio away, kick-off 5.45pm
• Wednesday, December 13, Feyenoord home, kick-off 8pm

STH THREE-MATCH PACKAGE TICKET INFORMATION

Season Ticket holders can buy a three-match package for the Celts’ UCL games at Celtic Park, available online now with no additional booking fees, priced:

• Adult – £138 (£46 per match)
• Concessions – £108 (£36 per match)
• Under 13 – £96 (£32 per match)

No booking fees apply online.

Season Tickets will be activated for those who are unaffected by UEFA relocations and who buy a package for their seasonal seat. Print at home tickets will not be available for these games.