Brendan Rodgers’ men have the small task of eliminating Norwegian champions Rosenborg in the second round of qualification first, with the first leg coming up on Wednesday at Parkhead.
The identity of their third-round opponents, should they cross over to the next round, has now been made known, with Greek titleholders AEK posing a strong threat to Celtic’s ambition in the Champions League.
?? AEK Athens await the winners of #CELRBK. #UCL
Full details ➡️ https://t.co/ulZ5gbRkI2 pic.twitter.com/Skl1PRzUyk
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) July 23, 2018
The general feeling among the Hoops fans seems to be that they’ve ended up with a very tricky tie ahead of them if they can move past Rosenborg.
However, the frustration with the qualification format seems to have spread to Twitter with some users angry at the Hoops, no pun intended, that Celtic are forced to jump through each year to make it to the group stages.
Hope I'm wrong but unless we strengthen the defence we won't qualify this year.
— Stephen McAllister (@cal8867) July 23, 2018
Celtic will play AEK Athens, should we progress past Rosenborg in the 2nd Qualifying Round.
No doubt that this year’s Champions League qualification journey is the toughest yet. Be a great achievement to qualify ?
— Celtic Fans TV (@CelticFansTV) July 23, 2018
UEFA has ruined the CL now , all for the big rich clubs only now , how can it be called champions if 4th placed clubs get in ??? ?
— JOHN FERRIS (@johnfer7) July 23, 2018
Not sure why everyone is panicking! We will beat Rosenberg like we did last year and we will beat AEK ATHENS! We are Celtic ? #COYBIG
— Saif Rafiq (@srafiq1717) July 23, 2018
https://twitter.com/_Bheanian_/status/1021346618258395139
Everyone going on about it being a tough draw for Celtic…..it's a tough draw for AEK Athens too
— Colin Jordan (@ColinJo28629209) July 23, 2018