CELTIC manager Ange Postecoglou has launched a strong defence of his side in Europe - claiming those who feel differently to the Hoops belonging in the Champions League have an "agenda".
The Hoops were knocked out of European football's top tournament after a defeat to RB Leipzig at Parkhead left them with one point from four games.
Despite the loss, the Australian has insisted the Bhoys are exactly where they belong, even if results do not reflect that.
And he highlighted the example of Steve Clarke’s Scotland as to how narratives can change around teams.
“As opposed to just not being involved at all?,” he replied when asked about the whether Champions League football was indeed beneficial.
“So what you’re saying is that we play domestic competition and just ignore everything else? I get your question and I understand the whole… living here for 18 months now I’ve seen the Scottish national team go from heroes to no-hopers to heroes again.
“So I get this whole boom-bust cycle, and getting to here and the whole ‘woe is me’. We’re not the only country that struggles to get results at Champions League level.
“I can only talk for my club but if anyone can tell me that from the four games we’ve played that we don’t deserve to be there, or that we’ve been outplayed or looked out of place, then I reckon they’re talking from an agenda or some sort of bias.
“The questions I’ve had after each of our games is about opportunities missed. The ‘opportunities missed’ suggests that we’ve got to improve some areas for sure, but doesn’t say that we somehow don’t belong in a competition that we’ve earned the right to be in.”
