Returning Brendan Rodgers famously said first time around it would be "terminado" for him if Celtic didn't match his ambitions moving forward.
That illuminating line came six months before his abrupt departure for Leicester but, perhaps, the shock which followed his move to the King Power Stadium shouldn't have left so many jaws on the floor despite the suddenness of his final days. And four years later the Irishman stands on the brink of saying yes to a Celtic return.
It's understood much of the discussions with principal shareholder Dermot Desmond and the board have centred on driving the Premiership champions to the next level. Domestic dominance has become the norm and the 50-year-old wants to be the man – with passport in hand – to usher in a new glory era on the continent.
Rodgers' return will start with a luxury he never experienced first time around with guaranteed group stage football in the world's richest club competition. Nerve-shredders in Be'er Sheva will be swerved as he can plan ahead for a crack at the best teams in the world. Rodgers is targeting a telling impact in Europe and it's believed he will be backed with a budget to do so. It's high time in the eyes of fans who previously dubbed their east end home 'Fortress Paradise', as the likes of Porto, Manchester United, Barcelona, Lyon and AC Milan left Parkhead pointless.
Rodgers has managed 12 games in the tournament proper and will be keen to improve on his singular win against Anderlecht, however, he would rightly point to a pair of draws with Manchester City and rousing displays against Bayern Munich and away to Borussia Monchengladbach. He'll likely feel he has unfinished business on the grandest stage.
The format for next season is a familiar one to Celtic and Rodgers, of course, but new awakenings await in 12 months' time as UEFA gears up for their concept which leans on the Swiss Model Format. Aleksander Ceferin's new vision – amid the ongoing European Super League threat – aims to please clubs of all sizes and standing.
Record Sport breaks down what you need to know about what comes next and what Celtic will experience if they emerge as champions at the end of the 2023/24 season.
- Tournament increasing from 32 to 36 teams
- A guarantee of eight games for all teams who have automatically qualified. Up from six.
- A league format where teams will face eight different opponents on one occasion
- More games guarantees more money with £30m regarded as the current minimum haul in the present format
- Teams that finish in top eight are straight into knockouts
- Teams who finish between ninth and 24th will face off in a playoff round which brings in two more fixtures (10) in total
- No dropdown to the Europa League for the teams who finish between 25th and 36th
It appears new and exciting and would only underline why Rodgers appears keen to push the boat out. That factor could also be reversed to underline why Dermot Desmond is so keen to secure the return of a man with a record of seven consecutive domestic trophies. The Irish tycoon knows the times are changing and wants the best in situ at Celtic Park.
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