Gordon Smith: Where will Celtic pick up points in the Champions League?

Kieran Tierney in action for Celtic (SNS Group)

THERE is an old saying: “Be careful what you wish for.”

Even as he savours a Champions League draw that oozes glamour, a little bit of Brendan Rodgers must be thinking – what I have let myself in for!

To draw clubs from Spain, England and Germany – arguably the three strongest leagues in Europe – is tough enough.

When two of those opponents are Barcelona and Manchester City, who in a rebuilding process overseen by ex-Barca boss Pep Guardiola have spent over £100 million this summer, the task ahead becomes daunting in the extreme.

Neither does the identity of the third team in the group, Borussia Moenchengladbach, give cause for solace.

Older Scottish fans may remember Dundee United beating the German side en route to the 1987 UEFA Cup Final, a run incidentally that also saw the Tangerines taking the scalp of Barcelona.

Of much more relevance, however, is Borussia’s recent form.

They swept into the all-important last 32 with the 6-1 demolition of Young Boys of Berne, the second-leg win completing a staggering 9-2 aggregate victory.

While they finished bottom of a group last year containing powerhouses Juventus, Manchester City (again) and Sevilla, they held Juve to draws home and away and beat the Spaniards – who went on to win the Europa League – 4-2 at Borussia Park.

So you look at the six games and you have to say where will Celtic pick up points?

Not away from home, if a qualifying campaign which included defeats in Israel and Gibraltar – as well as a draw in Kazakhstan – is anything to go by.

The ties at Celtic Park offer a better opportunity.

As impressive as the atmosphere is at the stadium on these nights, and it is, I honestly can’t see any of the trio being fazed by the experience.

Not when their players are accustomed to turning out in huge occasions for both club and country on a regular basis.

Manchester City will be the first to visit on September 28 in a match-up which reminds me a little of the 2009 Champions League play-off between Celtic and Arsenal.

Then, a Gunners side containing the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie and Andrey Arshavin won 2-0 to become the first English side in over a quarter of a century to beat the Hoops at their own ground.

While plenty of fans will remember the return for Eduardo’s dive for a penalty, the final score ended up 3-1 to Arsenal. So the gulf between the sides was clear.

Arguably too, this was a Celtic side which was blessed with a much stronger backline than they have today.

Andreas Hinkel got over 20 caps for Germany and Gary Caldwell is a Scotland Hall of Famer. While Glenn Loovens and Danny Fox only managed half-a-dozen appearances between them for Holland and Scotland respectively, they have both gone on to forge long careers in the English game.

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell has made it clear the manager will be handed considerable sums to strengthen.

After a run in which he has watched his side concede six goals in three games, Rodgers must surely turn his attention to his defence.

With Kolo Toure brought in to bolster the centre where Jozo Simunovic is soon to return, and Kieran Tierney, a Rodgers favourite, on the left flank, right-back would seem the most-pressing issue.

Rodgers has made clear his top priority is for a creative midfielder who can help unlock defences. A player in the style, but not the price bracket, of his former Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen.

But while others could be added, any Celtic fans hoping for English Premier League-style signings are liable to be disappointed.

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