Tom Boyd didn’t get the glory of playing for Celtic in the group stage of the Champions League.
But he’s been to enough of the games at Parkhead to know Ange Postecoglou’s team are in for a treat.
And Boyd is convinced the Aussie’s squad can make an impact due to the desire of the manager to make the club genuine competitors again on the biggest stage.
Now the former skipper isn’t playing, he’s actually feeling a tiny tinge of disappointment that there’s no qualifiers this time around.
That’s only because he doesn’t want the summer to drag and does want back in the stadiums to see Postecoglou’s men in full flight again as soon as possible.
But he’s serious when it comes to the bigger picture. Automatic placement into the groups is beneficial on a host of levels.
Additional secured finance to help boost the coffers and assist with quality recruitment. The knowledge superstars are heading back to Glasgow’s East End and that there’s also some extra rest time for the troops.
Boyd is excited about the return. When Celtic qualified for the first time 21 years ago, he was amongst the Martin O’Neill unit who made it happen.
The ex-Scotland defender was involved in the successful two-legged shoot-out against Ajax.
And while he didn’t get to face Juventus, Porto and Rosenborg in the group stage, he savoured being part of the experience.
Boyd said: “Now that I’m not playing and I don’t have to worry about getting two weeks’ holiday, I want Celtic to play in qualifiers so that I can see them play earlier. It’s not great for the nerves, but they’re great.
“But now we’re there and we’re guaranteed Champions League football. Celtic Park is a stage that is perfect for European football, for Champions League nights and we want to see some great nights once again.
“I’m buzzing. There are a lot of things to happen before that, but everybody is really looking forward to it. It is the first time in a while.
“I didn’t play in it. I got us there, but didn’t manage to play in the group stage.
“There were a couple of decent players in my way, big Bobo Balde, Joos Valgaeren, Johan Mjallby amongst others, but I managed to get us there and that was a fantastic experience.
“We have had some wonderful times in the Champions League and it is great to be there.
“Some of the best players in the world have said that playing at Celtic Park is their best experience ever, so we want to see that back again, we want to see us being able to compete in the Champions League. Yeah, let’s bring it on.”
In Postecoglou’s eyes, it’s not about making up the numbers. The coach is adamant he wants his side to compete and is building a squad to do so.
It’s big talk, but Boyd has learned to take it in when the manager speaks because most of his statements since walking in the front door of Celtic have come to fruition.
Boyd said: “When the manager talks we listen. After last season and what he did with the football club, from where it was at the start of the season to where it was when we finished, you would have to say we are in a far better position to compete this season.
“Rather than it being a rebuilding job, we just need to add a couple of wee tweaks here and there because we have the basis of an excellent squad.”
Having guaranteed group-stage action takes away the fraught nature of the qualifiers.
O’Neill, Gordon Strachan, Neil Lennon and Brendan Rodgers all spoke openly about the difficulties of having to negotiate the matches at a time when the squad wasn’t fully built or the players were not up to top speed.
Extra rest for some of the international boys who have just been on Nations League duty won’t go amiss either.
But Boyd reckons those lads will be itching to get back into the fold and he smiled: “I have been there myself a few years ago!
“Not as much as Callum McGregor just now, right enough. But you literally got one week’s rest before you started again.
“Listen, these guys are professional and they would rather be in there playing football than on holiday with the wife somewhere. No, let’s go and start pre-season again.
“Go and recharge your batteries? Speaking from personal experience? No!
“Yes, I know in modern football with some people playing and exceptional number of games and not getting any rest they need a couple of weeks break through that campaign.
“But if there is a first team game played you know you would want to play in it, and I know they have got this squad rotation now, so you need that amount of intensity.
“The game has slightly changed with the high pressing, the really high pressing, that has come into it now.
“Teams in years gone by didn’t do that! No, listen, You would rather play every day of the week. You would rather play than train. So, yeah, just bring it on. I am sure the players will be buzzing and really looking forward to the start of the season.”
● Boyd spoke as Celtic FC Foundation made a £7,000 donation to fund this year’s Taxis Outing to Troon for hundreds of very deserving children. Celtic have enjoyed an association with the charity for over 20 years donating around £170,000 during this period.
