Celtic will be in the UEFA Women’s Champions League draw for the group stages after their fine 3-0 aggregate win over the higher ranked Ukrainian Champions FK Vorskla Poltava in the second round of qualifiers…
Here’s how the draw will look in terms of the teams in each of the four pots, with Celtic being in pot four. It’s going to be a steep learning curve for the team playing against the best club sides in Europe for the first time in Europe’s Premier club competition, the Women’s Champions League.
Pot 1: Barcelona (ESP, holders), Lyon (FRA), Bayern München (GER), Chelsea (ENG)
Pot 2: Wolfsburg (GER), Arsenal (ENG), Real Madrid (ESP), Manchester City (ENG)
Pot 3: Juventus (ITA), St. Pölten (AUT), Roma (ITA), Twente (NED)
Pot 4: Vålerenga (NOR), Celtic (SCO), Hammarby (SWE), Galatasaray (TUR)
The same thing was probably said back in the autumn of 1966 when Jock Stein’s Celtic side competed in the European Cup (now called The Champions League) for the first time and went on to lift the trophy the following May.
READ THIS…Celtic secure €400,000 for UWCL group stage qualification
No-one is suggesting that Elena Sadiku’s side can do something similar. The truth is that the four pot 4 teams are likely to be in for some tough nights, and even few heavy defeats. For instance Arsenal are in pot 2 and they played theRangers in the qualifiers and won 6-0. Celtic (deliciously) won the league on goal difference from Jo Potter’s side who had a budget much higher than Celtic’s as they targeted qualification for Champions League group stages and the money that that brings to the club.
Last night Celtic earned €400,000 just for reaching the group stages and there’s more money on offer for wins, draws and qualification.
The SWPL Champions go through the Champions route to reach the group stages and the standard of opposition appears to be round about the level of the top SWPL1 sides – so we have a chance – and Elena Sadiku and her side did brilliantly to negotiate their way through three tricky ties to qualify.
The alternative route that theRangers ended up in saw them thrashed 6-0 by Arsenal and 3-0 by Atletico Madrid to finish bottom and go out with tails well and truly between their legs. The point is that the SWPL1 title must be retained and all season so far Celtic has had an eye on Europe – and rightly so.
Now with six major Champions League matches to come over the next few months, there’s a real danger that our league chances are damaged. Of course Elena Sadiku has used squad rotation extensively already with this in mind and will clearly continue to do so.
theRangers have a two points lead and have a huge goal difference advantage – their plan is to ensure that what happened last season isn’t repeated and realise that most goals scored is effectively an extra point. Let them play that game but we must be fully focused and ready for the first Glasgow derby at Broadwood next Thursday night. Before that the Ghirls are back at Montrose on Sunday, this time in Sky Sports Cup action.
A word on the Celtic support last night, magnificent. But as someone mentioned in the comments section Celtic is a CLUB not just one team and we now have TWO TEAMS in the Champions League. Arsenal Women play at the Emirates and can sell-out the ground. The big advantage Celtic have on Champions League matches at home is the support. We must now get behind the team and give them the backing by turning up in numbers.
We’ll publish a photo special from last night to document what was a history making night for Celtic Football Club. We should be so proud of the achievements of Elena Sadiku, her staff and the Celtic FC Women squad.
The Celtic Star has promoted the Celtic FC Women’s team, alongside Cynic Women, for the past five seasons and have often though we were battering our heads against a brick wall trying to get the enthusiasm for women’s football up. Look around the teams in the Champions League and see the crowds that they are getting.
We may be late at coming to the party but we are Celtic supporters, we have a team in the Champion League and we should be there to give the Ghirls a cheer.
#CelticFC🍀
– Thursday, September 26, 2024
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