Ange Postecoglou can make Celtic in to a 'monster' of a European super club claims Parkhead hero Paul Lambert.
The former Champions League winner claims he could see the pain etched on the Aussie boss' face when delivering his thoughts on the Hoops floundering campaign in Europe's elite competition. Celtic gave Real Madrid a game at home before suffering a heavy second half onslaught before back-to-back defeats to RB Leipzig were tinged with a draw against Shakhtar Donetsk to end the group rock bottom.
Postecoglou himself admitted his band of players wouldn't become Champions League quality overnight but Lambert believes the blueprint to became a major name on the European stage again is open to the coach. Should the Hoops retain the Scottish Premiership then automatic qualification will follow, with a current nine point gap over rivals Rangers.
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He told the Daily Record: “It’s always hard to compare teams from different eras, although the Lisbon Lions will always be the greatest – the club was build on the foundations of their success.
"Ange has done a great job since he came in, when he inherited what could be described as a shambles, with players who no longer wanted to be at Parkhead and others who should never have been there.
“I could sense the hurt and disappointment coming through in Ange’s post-match interviews after their defeats against Real Madrid,” he claimed. They’d been the better team and created the better chances for an hour at home to Real before they were caught by sucker punches.
“The best teams do that to you. The level in the Champions League is ten times higher than the Premiership and you can’t slack off for a second. Ange will know where his team were lacking after those defeats by Real and RB Leipzig and he’ll look to sort that out.
“My gut feeling is that the manager and those players are desperate to make their mark in the competition [Champions League] and, with an even stronger squad next season, they should be in with a chance. Ange’s strike rate with his signings has been phenomenal and the arrival of the Japanese lads, with their talent and their work-rate, has been a breath of fresh air.”
The ex-Borussia Dortmund man also insists the Parkhead club are 'commercially' stronger than their city rivals. He added: “Celtic are much stronger than Rangers commercially and that’s important. The structure is sound, they have better merchandising and sponsorship deals so they’re flying on and off the field.
“That financial gap will only increase if Celtic get into the new-look Champions League next season – with four guaranteed home games and all the extra TV and UEFA revenue which comes with it – and Rangers miss out. Michael Beale has a big rebuild to do at Ibrox and, with Rangers on a UEFA watchlist over Financial Sustainability regulations, they’ll be limited as to how much they can spend.
“So he needs to get every new signing spot on just to try and keep up with them. Rangers outspent Celtic for many years but now it’s the other way round. For Celtic, though, the potential is there for them to become a European super club. They could be a real monster if they get things going and the manager keeps on doing what he’s doing.
“Celtic are a world-wide institution and, if they were ever invited to join the Premier League in England. I’ve no doubt that, after taking a couple of years to find their feet, they would be challenging for the title with the increased cash their member clubs receive.”
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