James Forrest knows this pre-season is very different because Champions League-bound Celtic don’t have to worry about the pitfalls of European qualification.
The champions have been in Austria and will head to Czech Republic to finish this leg of their tour off with a game against Banik Ostrava on Wednesday. Celtic’s title success last season means that they automatically go into the group stages of the Champions League for the first time in five years.
Normally at this stage of the season the Hoops and Forrest have had to navigate qualifiers in outposts like Armenia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. It means there are no distractions for Ange Postecoglou ’s side and the main focus can be on getting things right for their flag day opener against Aberdeen at the end of the month.
