Celtic coach Ange Postecoglou is embracing the challenge of a tough UEFA Europa League draw after being placed in group G with Bayer Leverkusen, Real Betis and Ferencvaros.
The Scottish club snuck through to the group stage of Europe’s second tier competition yesterday, overcoming two “terrible errors” to beat AZ Alkmaar 3-2 on aggregate.
It ended a six game winning streak under former Socceroos coach Postecoglou, whose appointment had initially been met with plenty of scepticism.
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“It’s exciting,” Postecoglou said of the draw.
“I guess that’s the reward for last night and over the two legs against a very good AZ side that we could look forward to the draw today. Looking at the calibre of the teams we’re going to be up against, I’m super excited. I know we’re going to have some fantastic nights, particularly here at Celtic Park so we’re looking forward to it.
“It’s why we are all involved in the game, to test yourselves against the best, and the best on the continent. We obviously missed out on the Champions League this year, but you see the calibre of the teams in all of the groups in the Europa League – there’s some fantastic opponents, pedigree, tradition and history.
“We’re going to be up against it and I’m sure all of the players and everyone at the club is looking forward to it.”
Only the eight group winners will advance.
The second placed teams will face the third placed finishers from the Champions League for the remaining spots.
Only teams from high ranked domestic leagues and champions from lower ranked countries were eligible for the revamped Europa League.
Napoli and Leicester qualified by finishing in fifth place in Serie A and the Premier League, respectively.
Four former European champions are also in the Europa League field, including Marseille, the winner of the first Champions League in 1993.
The French club will face Lazio, Lokomotiv Moscow and Galatasaray.
PSV Eindhoven, Celtic and Red Star Belgrade are the others.
PSV will be up against Monaco, Real Sociedad and Sturm Graz.
Red Star Belgrade, the European champion in 1991, will face Braga, Ludogorets and Midtjylland.
In other groups, it’s: Lyon, Rangers, Sparta Prague and Brondby; West Ham, Dinamo Zagreb, Genk and Rapid Vienna; and Eintracht Frankfurt, Olympiakos, Fenerbahce and Antwerp.
The Europa League final is scheduled for May next year at the home stadium of six time champion Sevilla.
EUROPA LEAGUE GROUPS
Group A: Lyon (FRA), Rangers (SCO), Sparta Prague (CZE), Brondby (DEN)
Group B: Monaco (FRA), PSV Eindhoven (NED), Real Sociedad (ESP), Sturm Graz (AUT)
Group C: Napoli (ITA), Leicester City (ENG), Spartak Moscow (RUS), Legia Warsaw (POL)
Group D: Olympiakos (GRE), Eintracht Frankfurt (GER), Fenerbahce (TUR), Royal Antwerp (BEL)
Group E: Lazio (ITA), Lokomotiv Moscow (RUS), Marseille (FRA), Galatasaray (TUR)
Group F: Sporting Braga (POR), Red Star Belgrade (SRB), Ludogorets (BUL), Midtjylland (DEN)
Group G: Bayer Leverkusen (GER), Celtic (SCO), Real Betis (ESP), Ferencvaros (HUN)
Group H: Dinamo Zagreb (CRO), Genk (BEL), West Ham United (ENG), Rapid Vienna (AUT)