Celtic

Brendan Rodgers: 'Summer season would benefit Scottish clubs in Europe'

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter | 27 November 2016

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers believes that the SPFL should move to a summer season to give Scottish teams a better chance of competing in Europe.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has claimed that the SPFL should switch to a summer season to give teams a better chance of competing in Europe.

The Hoops were again Scotland's only representatives in the group stages of European competition for the sixth successive season, but have already been eliminated from the Champions League.

Rodgers believes that the current setup in the country is failing to prepare teams for continental competition and making it difficult for them to progress beyond the preliminary rounds.

"It's getting colder and in terms of coaching it's tough," Rodgers told Sky Sports News. "We're blessed in terms of what we have here compared to other teams, but if you take a developing kid for example, he's off during the best months of the year. It was minus eight here this morning.

"I would say that there is an argument to say a season which starts in February to November would actually work up here and there would be benefits for clubs. There would be financial benefits and benefits for coaching in the warmer months. Then when you are midway through your season you get the Champions League qualifiers. Astana had played 22 games by the time we faced them - and that's remarkable because we had only played once.

"If we don't qualify and then go on to win a league and cup what is said is that 'you didn't make the Champions League'. It's a massive prize - and you see what it gives you, the learning, the games and the fans love it - brilliant. To not be given the best chance to achieve it puts you on the back foot."

Celtic started their European campaign with a shock 1-0 defeat to Gibraltar's Lincoln Red Imps before winning 3-0 in Glasgow.