SIR KENNY DALGLISH: If Celtic are dumped out in Denmark, the blame should not be laid at the door of Ange Postecoglou

It would be terrific if Celtic got through to the next stage of the Champions League.

But if they don’t get it over the line in Denmark on Wednesday night, new manager, Ange Postecoglou, should be spared any flak.

It can’t be on him.

This is not the time to be pointing fingers. There needs to be positivity around Celtic Park.

If they fail against Midtjylland, they’ll just need to dust themselves down and get on with it.

Celtic looked comfortable and set for a victory in the first leg until Nir Bitton allowed his frustration to get the better of him, and got himself sent off.

The Israeli should have known better, and it shouldn’t have been difficult for him to keep his hands by his side when Anders Dreyer took a dive.

At that point, they were a goal ahead, thanks to a fine finish from new signing, Liel Abada.

But Postecoglou had to change it there and then. Abada was replaced to bring on another defender, the youngster Dane Murray.

Murray and Stephen Welsh both acquitted themselves very well, but the addition of new signing, Carl Starfelt, from Rubin Kazan will be a good one for the team.

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Dreyer was also given his marching orders after picking up a second yellow for another dive, and that levelled it up.

But Celtic had lost momentum by then. They didn’t really recover from the disruption caused by Bitton’s dismissal.

So it’s paramount they keep 11 men on the field in the return.

The result at Parkhead was disappointing, but winning the tie is definitely not beyond the Hoops.

Ange will have had an extra few days to work with the players, and integrate his new signings.

But the manager needs to be allowed time to implement his plans.

There remains a lot of work to be done in the background at Celtic Park, and key positions still need to be filled on the pitch.

Ange will be looking for the best help he can get from chief executive, Dom McKay, and the backroom staff.

They all need to be together, and the manager can’t be allowed to feel isolated.

He has the Scotland players back in his squad, and it was good to see Callum McGregor being given the captaincy. Ryan Christie also played very well against the Danes.

It will be a long and difficult road for them to get into the Champions League. If they get past Midtjylland, then it looks as though an excellent PSV Eindhoven side will lie in wait.

However, there is no point concentrating on the Dutch club until this one gets taken care of.

Away from Europe, the SPFL Premiership season kicks-off next weekend, and I think it is going to be a cracking campaign.

Rangers are the team to be beat and, comparing the Old Firm, they look the much more-settled squad, and club, at the moment.

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Steven Gerrard and his players are going about their business, and there isn’t too much speculation surrounding his players, although the future of Alfredo Morelos still appears to be on the agenda.

So Steven may need to bring in another striker in this window – but I reckon Celtic still need to bring in four or five more new players.

Ange will be wanting his business complete, and the ins-and-outs decided as quickly as possible.

The Celtic fans will be wondering how their team will shape up this season after the disappointment of their 10-in-a-row campaign.

I sense a real determination from the Parkhead faithful to back their team to winning the title back from Ibrox in the next 10 months.

But it will take something special to take it away from the south side of Glasgow. That’s what makes it all very fascinating.

The month of August is going to tell us an awful lot.

I know it will still be early in the campaign, but the transfer window will then be closed and the squads known.

Celtic travel to Ibrox on August 29, and that will be an absolute cracker.

Rangers are also in Champions League qualifiers, and they are chasing a prize of in excess of £30-million. It’s a massive carrot to dangle in front of them.

It looks as though they will face Malmo in their first tie, and the Swedes are a very competent team.

It will need all of the experience Steven and his players have built up on the European stage to win that one.

Elsewhere, Aberdeen and Hibs both had good wins in Europe last midweek and should be through, while St Johnstone look as though they will be facing Galatasaray.

So we are well and truly up and running, and there is also the draw for the last-16 of the Premier Sports League Cup later today.

The next few weeks will tell us all so much about how the following nine months will go after that.