Charlie Mulgrew is desperate to be part of this season’s Champions League but knows there is a long way to go before Celtic reach the group stages. The Parkhead side must first beat KR Reykjavik in the second qualifying round – and then negotiate a third round and play-off tie – in order to be part of the competition proper. Mulgrew said: "It’s massive in the season. We’ve had it the last two years and this is the third season where we’ve needed to qualify for the Champions League so it’s huge for our season. Everybody wants to be involved in the Champions League and it’s what we’re striving towards."
Celtic will face an added hurdle this year as they must play their home tie against the Icelandic side at Murrayfield as Celtic Park is in use for the Commonwealth Games. Mulgrew went on: "There’s nothing we can do about it. We’d prefer to have it at Celtic Park of course but there’s nothing we can do about it. You just have to get on with it and not think too much about it and take the game as it comes."
After reaching agreement with KR Rekjavik to switch the tie, Celtic will now play away first on Tuesday, 15 July with the return leg in Edinburgh on Tuesday, 22 July. The Champions League proper gets under way on 16 September.