Neil Lennon has told Brendan Rodgers the Champions League last 16 is where he can make his Celtic stamp- as the former boss explains why Kyogo is NOT Tottenham quality.
The ex-midfielder is watching on with intrigue as Rodgers era 2.0 kicks off at Parkhead and already he has signed Norwegian playmaker Odin Thiago Holm. Aussie attacker Marco Tilio is poised to be next in the door as the returning gaffer looks to use his transfer kitty to make inroads in Europe's elite competition.
Lennon - the last Hoops manager to reach the UCL knockouts - has masterminded famous European nights for Celtic, including THAT win over Barcelona and more recently an away success at Lazio. And he tells The Daily Mail Rodgers may have big aims in mind. Lennon said: "I think in Europe he'll be looking to improve not so much performances as results and challenge for second place in the Champions League group or at least try and get a Europa League place by finishing third.
"It's doable. The glass ceiling for all of us over the years has been the last 16 and maybe he'll want to try and smash that but it's obviously a very difficult thing to do.
"His initial thoughts will be: 'Can we get out of the group?' and if they can't: 'Can they get European football after Christmas?' You know you aren't going to dominate the ball in Europe the way you do in Scotland because you are coming up against quality teams, coaches and players.
"Trying to play the way you do in Scotland against these teams is a difficult thing to do because a lot of these teams are full of world-class players. It is the blue-riband event and there are times when you do have to concede possession or play a different way. I think Brendan (Rodgers) will embrace that. I think he'll look forward to that tactical side of the game and the challenges that the Champions League games will bring."
For that to happen, Rodgers will need to keep his key players, and Kyogo is one linked with making a move with Ange Postecoglou. But Lennon doesn't think the Japanese forward has the consistency to make it at a big English club, with Harry Kane looking at a transfer to Bayern Munich.
He added: "'I have my doubts, yes. I don't think for one minute that he could replace Harry Kane, for example, if that was to be the case. He's a good player. I like his style.
"I'm just not sure he could play consistently at the highest level in the Premier League on a week-to-week basis. The other thing is that you've got Kane there at the minute, you've got (Heung-Min) Son, (Dejan) Kulusevski, Richarlison. These are world-class players that he'd need to break into if he goes to Spurs. I think he could play in the Premier League but maybe just not at the top end at the minute."
