What a difference a year makes at Celtic
Who would have thought that signing quality players would produce significant results, like the one on Wednesday night against a very decent opponent?
This time last year we were facing a daunting, and gruelling trip to Kazakhstan with our Champions League aspirations very much on the line.
Having flopped at home against minnows Kairat Almaty, we made the long journey, and were ultimately made to pay as the Kazakh side beat us on spot kicks to kill off our Champions League aspirations, and confine us to the Europa League.
The only ‘new’ additions to Brendan Rodgers pool of players for those two games were the returning Kieran Tierney (who had signed a pre-contract months earlier) with Shin Yamada, loan signing Jahmai Simpson Pusey, and Callum Osmand the other new recruits, but were very much seen as bench players at the most.
That failure to add any real quality to our side was the biggest factor for our failure not just in Europe, but the following few months to follow. Something that resulted in Brendan Rodgers deciding enough was enough, which culminated in the Irishman handing in his notice.
Fast forward a full year, and the picture looks completely different.
Our opponents in the first leg of the Champions League play offs LASK, are a much more formidable side than Kairat, that’s for sure.
We beat them comfortably, and have a more than decent chance of qualifying come the second leg on Tuesday night.
The reason? Well it’s simple enough. We invested heavily in our playing squad, and not just with squad fillers, but with players of proven quality.
£11 million man Kasper Hogh, and £6 million Camilo Duran both started the game, as did £6 million signing Miko Baur.
Colombian Duran proved to be the catalyst with two superbly taking goals, and put in a terrific all round performance as we disposed of the Austrian Champions to put one foot in the Champions League group stages.
If we are successful in finishing the task come Tuesday evening, it will guarantee the club a bumper £40 million payday.
Who’d have thought that signing quality would churn out such success?
