Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has claimed his side are already better than they were last season when they completed a remarkable treble.
The Hoops were undefeated in all domestic competitions as the Northern Irish manager led them to the Scottish Premiership, the Scottish League Cup and the Scottish Cup, finishing 30 points clear of second placed Aberdeen in the league.
Last summer saw the manager sign the likes of Scott Sinclair from Aston Villa, while he also managed to bring in a good mix of youth and experience in the form of Kolo Toure and Moussa Dembele, both on free transfers.
His signings had an immediate impact and were crucial to their unbeaten campaign, with Sinclair and Dembele hitting 57 goals and picking up 20 assists between them in their 99 appearances.
This transfer window has seen Rodgers bring in three new faces in the shape of Jonny Hayes, Kundai Benyu and Olivier Ntcham from Aberdeen, Ipswich and Manchester City respectively, and he believes that the trio’s arrival means his side are in a better place than they were last season.
He told talkSPORT: “We have brought in a few signings so far that really fit the profile of how we work.
“I expect them to do very well and add to the already good squad that we have.
“I believe we are better this year. Where we are at today in relation to where we were at last year, is a big difference.”
One area which would have disappointed the 44-year-old boss last season would have been the Hoops’ performances in Europe.
Their Champions League campaign got off to the worst possible start, suffering a shock defeat to Lincoln Red Imps in their opening qualifying match, and while they managed to reach the group stages, they failed to pick up a single victory over Barcelona, Manchester City or Borussia Monchengladbach.
However, Rodgers insists that his side’s focus this season will be performing better in Europe, with a hope of reaching the knockout stages which commence in the new year.
“The progression for us this season will be to be in European football into 2018,” he told talkSPORT.
“That will be the aim for this season. “Every manager and coach coming in over pre-season will want to improve and want to be better and we are no different, even after our achievements of last season.”
However, the Hoops once again face three qualifying rounds before the group stages, and will have to overcome Northern Irish side Linfield first, with Celtic playing the first leg away on Friday.