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Celtic’s real Champions League competition

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

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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  2. fan-a-tic on

    Sevilla showed the positive effect of allowing players to attack the last third.

     

    To few teams nowadays willing to gamble in final third.

  7. Greenpinata on

    Wow, never going to complain about our mad KO times. Super cup playing at quarter to one in the morning.

     

     

    OT for all, not just Willie Collum.

     

     

    HH.

  8. fan-a-tic on

    BIG NAN

     

    I agree with the sentiment of the petition on the war criminal.

     

    But what chance is there the UK government would actually arrest him even if the whole of UK signed?

     

    I can’t see the USA ever allowing their UK lapdog to effect such an action.

  9. Mr Pastry on

    Big Nan Bread – we know what your views are – but you don’t have a legal leg to stand on – you, and the likes of the idealistic cowards in the Stop All Wars tripe, like to seize the moral high ground and decree that the truth is your truth, with no regard to ALL ccircumstances – you are all sad deluded people, who would ‘scream the place down’ if subjected to the summary justice that you are so desperate to inflict on others.

  14. WeefratheTim on

    Great Dundee derby tonight.

     

     

    Had a right good blether with my Swindon CSC fhriend today, He reckons I now know who my Celtic fhriends are now. No disagreement on that one bud. The corner??? Nae chance. HH

     

     

    Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.

  23. Andrew Kerins Green and White Army on

    The speculation about Scott Allan can be easily solved by asking Derek- my information is Scott Brown will sign for Rangers ( rip)-Johnstone

     

    Simples

  25. Greenpinata on

    Drat have to go out. Miss the end of the Supercup, but more importantly all the secrets.

     

     

    This is serious stuff.

     

     

    HH from Big hanging donkey full of sweets.

  26. hebcelt on

    Mr Flakey you have an uncanny knack of alienating many on this blog, some who may agree with some of your sentiments but your use of words leaves a lot to be desired.

  27. winning captains on

    See if that RONNY guy took a big job in Scotland and decided he’d just go on living in the country he’s from then those blokes in those pretigious newspapers would be saying hey Ronny that’s not on! You are taking the Colin Nish here! And where does you’re assistant stay? Cheshire! That’s sum commute! It’s as if you’re not entirely convinced you’ll be in this job for long. Strange times.

  30. 67Heaven .. CHALLENGING THE LIE ..I am wee Oscar...... Ipox belongs to the creditors on

    Barca…..MESSI, who else

  32. Cowiebhoy on

    Winning Captains, you trying to tell us something :-)

     

     

    Weefra, the CQN coarner is open to all Celtic supporters, to meet, greet and get hugs

     

    No idea what your problem is with it, but you will be welcome like any others

     

     

    Hail Hail

  33. Dallas Dallas where the heck is Dallas on

    Killie have one player in particular who fits in the Derek McInnes/John Collins thoughts on Scottish players who play in our league, the ‘multi-talented’ Jamie Hammil.

     

     

    If Broonie isn’t playing tomorrow, Hammil will try his phoney hardman, wido act even more.

     

     

    One of these so called honest pros our media love so much.

  36. Captain Beefheart on

    I personally blame Stokesy for the Middle East conflict but I am willing to boycott Nir Bitton should we have to.

  37. oneneillennon on

    Looking for assistance as reckon a few on here may have an android mobi box. While using showbox app for movies sound very distorted. Have dowloaded speaker app but no joy. Unusually typing problem into google doesnt provide a solution. 1st day with box so am i being daft or is it problem with showbox app? Any help appreciated

  38. fan-a-tic on

    Two sitters in a row by Sevilla.

     

    It should be 5-5.

     

    Entertaining game with dreadful defending.

     

    If barcelona have high hopes for Barta they should rethink as he looks a total dumpling.

     

    I know he’s young but he could not of been more on the wrong side of his man if that his remit.s

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