Wednesday 6 December 2017 14:25, UK
Brendan Rodgers insisted that finishing third in Group B and dropping into the Europa League was a massive achievement for Celtic despite a 1-0 loss to Anderlecht.
Jozo Simunovic's own goal condemned Celtic to defeat in front of their own fans but they finished ahead of Anderlecht in their Champions League group courtesy of having a better head-to-head record.
Consequently, Celtic will have European football to look forward to next year and while Rodgers admitted ther Belgian opponents were better on the night, he was adamant that Celtic still overachieved.
"The context of the game affected the performance in the first-half with them having to chase the game. We couldn't keep the ball," he said.
"Midway through the first half we had to change tactically and I was thankful to be in 0-0 at half-time. Second half we were better, we were able to stem the flow and be a threat.
"They were better than us tonight but our aim was to get through to Europa League and come third in the group, that would be a massive achievement and we did that.
"There is immense pride but it is hard to feel that when you have lost. We got the job done but obviously we have a lot of work to do before we can affect that level. But we are through and we can look forward to it when it comes round in February."
Given Celtic were drawn in the same group as PSG and Bayern Munich, it was always going to be a mammoth task for them to reach the Champions League knockout stages.
Celtic have certainly found things difficult at this level, though, losing all but one of their six group games, while they also conceded 18 goals, 12 of which were scored by PSG alone.
In the aftermath of another defeat, Rodgers suggested his players have felt overawed in the competition but was also keen to stress that they have to be realistic when playing Europe's best clubs.
"Maybe some of the players felt they have a long way to go before they can call themselves players at this level," he added.
"We have to have a touch of realism here as well. There are going to be much better teams than us, we have to be clear on that.
"We have done amazing, we were fourth seeds and not many of them have got into third place.
"We have been able to do that but tonight is an example of a long way to go, and of the gap between the teams at the very top and those just below that."
