This season is all about the 10 right? That’s all. Europe is a distraction. A cry being heard many a time since the ninth title in a row was won, and who can argue? This season IS all about the 10 but surely Celtic fans should also expect more from Europe?
Many supporters have voiced the opinion that Europe is a distraction and the club should forego all continental competitions and focus on the Ten in a row campaign. Could this be a narrow minded view from a section of the Celtic support?
Celtic have raked in millions upon millions from participation in the Champions League and Europa League in the last nine seasons. Without those millions could the Parkhead side possibly have invested so much in the team as they have done to date?
Could Celtic have attracted the names over the last decade or have been able to afford them? Granted, some of the players that are listed below didn’t really go on to do much for the team but, the point still stands, investment was required to bring in the players AND pay for their salaries. Something that simply cannot be done by relying solely on season book sales or Scottish prize money. Listed below are a few examples since season 10/11 of the type of player Celtic has attracted and been able to afford due to European participation:
Season 10/11: Gary Hooper, Fraser Forster on loan.
Season 13/14: Van Dyke, Pukki, Griffiths and Bitton
Season 11/12: Victor Wanyama, Forster for a second spell
Season 12/13: Forster signs permanently. Rogic joins
Season 14/15: Stefan Scepovic, Jason Denayer, John Guidetti, Stuart Armstrong, Gary MacKay Steven and Ryan Christie
Season 15/16: Jozo Simunovic, Erik Sviatchenko, Dedryck Boyata, Nadir Ciftci and Patrick Roberts
Season 16/17: Scott Sinclair, Kristoffer Ajer, Kolo Toure, Moussa Dembele and Rodgers joined as Manager on a £2m per year salary
Season 17/18: Olivier Ntcham, Charly Musonda, Jonny Hayes, Jack Hendry, Lewis Morgan, Odsonne Edouard (loan)
Season 18/19: Odsonne Edouard (permant), Maryann Shved, Oliver Burke, Timothy Weah, Jeremy Toljan, Filip Benkovic, Daniel Arzani, Manny Perez, Andrew Gutman and Scott Bain
Season 19/20: Christopher Julien, Boli Bolingoli, Ismail Soro, Hatem Abd Elhamed, Jeremy Frimpong, Greg Taylor, Mo Elyounnousi, Fraser Forster, Mauritz Bauer
Season 20/21: Albian Ajeti, Patrik Klymala, Vasilis Barkas, Shane Duffy, David Turnbull, Diego Laxalt
There are players missing from this list that signed but never made any impact on the team, but taking a look at what Celtic have spent in transfer fees and wages, can Celtic fans really afford NOT to have European participation?
Now for one season, yeah, I get it. It’s all about making history. Another chapter written in the clubs magnificent story, but if fans really want to write Europe off this season and I mean REALLY write it off, then the right to criticise the manager and team surely must be forfeited if Celtic lose on Thursday night or fail to qualify from the Group stages because this season is really only about the Ten………..right?