Celtic fans have been reacting on social media today to the news that their club face a tie with AEK Athens in the third round of Champions League qualification, if they get past Rosenborg.
Brendan Rodgers’ men have the small task of eliminating Norwegian champions Rosenborg in the second round of qualification first, with the opening leg taking place at Parkhead on Wednesday.
The identity of their third round opponents, should they be victorious, has now been revealed, with Greek titleholders AEK posing a severe threat to Celtic’s Champions League ambitions.
???????? 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 amongst Bhoys fans seems to be that they’ve ended up with a very tricky tie waiting for them if they can get past Rosenborg.
However, there is also evident frustration with the qualification format itself, with some Twitter 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
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
We better get a couple signings in before then
— Derek Martin (@Dm11111111) 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
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
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
I hope, implying we get past Rosenborg, for the AEK Athens game both sets of fans can sing in celebration and share memories of Georgios Samaras, Celtic’s best ever player and the greatest footballer Greece has ever produced.
— Bhean (@_Bheanian_) July 23, 2018
OPINION
You can understand Celtic fans’ frustration at having to come through four legs of qualification just to make it to the Champions League proper. The Parkhead faithful crave Champions League football but it won’t be easy securing it this year. Rosenborg are a tough enough proposition as it is, and the Bhoys’ lack of significant investment in the squad this summer doesn’t make things any easier. If the Norwegians are brushed aside then it’s the Greek champions AEK Athens who lie in wait for Rodgers and his men: no easy task. Celtic are certainly capable of overcoming both teams and eventually securing their place in the group stages, but it’ll be a gruelling journey to get there. One fan said he hoped Celtic make a couple of signings before then but another pointed out that it would be just as hard a tie for AEK Athens.