Not all Champions League ‘winners’ take the trophy home in May. In 2009 Michel Platini, in his wisdom, decided that there were not enough champions in the Champions League, as a result of well-resourced also-rans from the large leagues crowding out table-toppers from the small leagues. The competition format was changed, champions from smaller nations would compete against each other.
The result of the change is that five champions from smaller leagues are guaranteed entry into the tournament. Conversely, runners up from the smaller leagues need to fight it out against non-champions from the big leagues, like Arsenal and Manchester United. The concern expressed at the time was that the flood of money gained by champions from the small countries would impact their leagues. ‘Good’, said a few of us.
Champions League money can double the income some clubs earn in a year. Successful Champions League entrants’ ability to compete would be greatly enhanced, perhaps meaning they jump into a virtuous circle, strengthening and qualifying in subsequent years.
There have been 30 places up for grabs in the champions route since, but the qualification performance stats isn’t what was expected by many. 22 teams have qualified but only six have done so more than once. Two, BATE Borisov and APOEL Nicosia, are the only teams to go one step better and qualify three times. Curiously, only BATE and Celtic have qualified in back to back seasons, no one has managed three in a row.
For all the riches the Champions League brings to Celtic, and teams far more impoverished than them, successful teams seem to encounter the classic Nouveau Riche problem. All this money and they don’t know how best to invest it in order to make sure they get another payday.
Qualification itself is not costless in competitive terms. It’s likely each team who punches through the barrier to reach the Promised Land, has to suffer the cost of exertion and distraction, which the visits of Europe’s aristocracy inevitably brings.
Then there’s the question of what to do with the money. Your best players get a shop window, encouraging them to run down their contracts. Your manager is likely to be off too. You have to find candidates further down the food chain, either in a lesser-still league, or at a club in your own land who are prepared to sell to you. And remember, this New Money is in the hands of people largely unaccustomed to spending at that level. You can afford to sign a €3m player, but the most expensive player you’ve previously worked with cost €200k. Those who can spot a great €200k player are not necessarily experienced enough to spend €3m wisely.
APOEL Nicosia and BATE Borisov have managed what the other 20 teams have struggled to replicate. Both are in this season’s play-offs and are favourites to go one stage further again. If BATE achieve this, they will have been group stage entrants four seasons out of five, so sustainable success not impossible.
Last week produced signs that eventually the cream is rising to the top. Eight of the 10 clubs in this season’s play-offs have reached the group stage through the champions route before, with the other two, Astana (v APOEL) and Albania’s Skenderbeu (v Dinamo Zagreb) odds against making it. For the first time it’s likely all five champions’ qualifiers will former graduates. The current highest number to qualify in one season is two.
So although the 30 places have been filled by 22 clubs from a remarkably diverse 17 countries, the pool of genuine competitors is approaching a limit.
Here’s the challenge, for Celtic and the rest. Your Champions League is a distinct competition to the headline grabbing tournament graced by Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Yours is being won by BATE Borisov. They are the team who have figured out what’s needed to come through this summer test with most consistency.
There are five places up for grabs. BATE and APOEL are doing their best to make sure their names are against two of those places. Celtic can grab another slot, but Malmo, Basel and Salzburg, as well as the Czechs, Israelis, Danes, Poles and other Eastern European teams, want their piece of the action too. A win against Malmo would go a long way towards flipping resources in Celtic’s favour, but whatever the outcome, being better than the rest of this geographically diverse group of small-nation clubs should be our immediate target.
Happy Birthday 50th to the Celtic View, the world’s first football club newspaper. Congratulations to the many who have contributed to the View over the years.
Can’t believe the news coverage John Collins comment has received. When he heard Derek McInnes’ backlash (cough) he must have looked around for a dressing room full of Hibs players.
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delaneys dunky
Not so sure about that. He started on the bench at the weekend as a result of some shenanigans on the training pitch. Fair play to him though, came on and scored the first goal. Still have high hopes for him mind you.
There was a link on here over the weekend re the mural for Patrick o’connell in belfast and the campaign to raise money for a gravestone for him 6 thousand is the target I believe now given the job he did in keeping the club alive 80 Years ago shouldn’t barca just get a memorial for him
Or is ” more than a club ” just a meaningless statement 4-1 now
Textbook how not to defend
Sign Charlton keeper give him no11
and i might get his name and number on my back
for 5s
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
JC2 on 11TH AUGUST 2015 8:51 PM
I would sign Charltons keeper
winky eye thing
DELANEYS DUNKY on 11TH AUGUST 2015 8:44 PM
I see that Tony Watt has scored for Charlton again tonight, after scoring on Saturday too. Hope the kid has screwed the nut.
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/celtics-real-champions-league-competition/comment-page-5/#comment-2650520
How is wee Willie Golum getting on in charge of Barca v Sevilla
Has he used the eyes in the back of his head yet :)
JC2
Papa?? :)
Say what you like about Paolo Di Canio. .
But he was a very exciting player to watch.
Loved him at celtic
Paul’s excellent piece reinforces the need to focus on the title and CL.
We must have the mindset that everything is geared to CL, our very existence depends on it.
We look upon EVERY season as a two-tier qualification :
1) Win the title
2) Get through QRs
Domestic cup competitions MUST play second-fiddle and be used for youth enhancement and development plus step-ups for returning injured players.
This approach must be ‘firmed-up ‘ and implented NOW.
VOGUEPUNTER on 11TH AUGUST 2015 8:39 PM
Motor in garage for few hours 10am to 1sh, you gone oot after that?
Sorry no , i’m going earlier and coming back to go shopping with my wife :>).
Paul67 et al
You start off watching The Sweeney, then onto Minder, end up watching New Tricks!
DJ67 & Celtic mac
Oh dear, hadn’t heard that about Tony. Hope he makes it in the game. Met him once, he was mental in a good way. :)
Lennybhoy your information on the 3 positions is the same as mine. I am told some serious money will be invested if we qualify for the CL.
On Scott Allan (not for me) I am told that Ronny sees some potential to work with. No mention of a GIRUY to the dark side. Be fore you asj Saint Stivs and ACGR I did not get this info from Mrs Lawwell
Delaneys Dunky
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Charlton Athletic
30 Pope
24 Charles-Cook
06 Sarr
05 Bauer
21 Fox
10 Ceballos Booked
22 Ba
04 Jackson
19 Bergdich
32 Watt
18 Ahearne-Grant
John Murphy
Good goal Arabs
Celtic development side go one up in Dundee derby.
Bourne, I hope John Murphy gets home to hus family, safe and well.
2 nil
2-0 Utd
The obsession with Tony Watt is rivaled only on here, by a similar with Neil McCann – neither have any impact, good,or, bad, on Celtic FC – why all the words?
Hus = his
Mr Pastry
Is Tony Watt the new Paddy McCourt
Dallas
Feel for that poor family all summer.
Mr Pastry
Haven’t you got a sausage to roll?
Justafan @ 8.30
In full agreement, Ryan Christie or Gauld on loan, would be a better choice for us than Allan
Christie being left footed also a bonus ? And is playing against a better quality of player in the premier league than Allan does in the old first division
So again in my view Christie at 20, a far better prospect than Allan who turns 24 in a couple of months
Hail Hail
CATMAN on 11TH AUGUST 2015 9:02 PM
I know you didn’t get it from Mrs or indeed Mr Lawwell.
My information is Ronny wants Scott but is being dissuaded by others.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Collums big moment has arrived!
4-3 to Barca …. 20 minutes to go …… Game on….!!!!
Mental game Barca v Seville.
Lennbhoy
Tell your contacts to persuade Ronny to look at Christie as a better option :-)
Mind that info on we still need an Irish connection ? different option ?
Hail Hail
Issue No:1 50 years old
Bourne, we live in hope John Murphy will get home to his family.
The Beatson clinic at Gartnavel Hospital have a laboratory named after Tommy Burns.
What a fitting tribute for Tommy and his family. Tommy is still helping others despite his tragic loss to his family.
have we bid for Spittal yet?
Nice of Wullie to give a penalty for a foul he’s actually seen
There is a petition to the UK Government and Parliament in the following terms:
Petition Benjamin Netanyahu to be arrested for war crimes when he arrives in London
Benjamin Netanyahu is to hold talks in London this September. Under international law he should be arrested for war crimes upon arrival in the U.K for the massacre of over 2000 civilians in 2014
Please consider signing this petition which has reached 35,000 signatures in the short time it has been online since yesterday!
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/105446
H.H.
News just in….
Celtic leader’s tweets of last 2 years “may not be legitimate”
Overseas bhoy
I am expectorating us to bid shortly
4-4 …… WOW
4-4