Scottish clubs are facing a Champions League sweat with the country’s coefficient ranking in danger of sliding after a disappointing season in European competition.
Celtic have enjoyed the luxury of entering the group stage of the competition last season as well as this term, and with a new format to be ushered in for the 2024/25 campaign, the Scottish Premiership title winners are set to fly the saltires in the group stages once again. With 36 teams set to compete in the revamped competition the champions look set to be given the green light for the expanded tournament.
However, after a lacklustre showing against some of the Continent's biggest hitters last term the coefficient score is sliding - and the Scottish Premiership is under pressure to keep the second Champions League qualification spot. The country could lose this coveted berth the season after next if our clubs don’t improve in Europe. Celtic failed to win a game and escape the group, while Rangers recorded the worst ever group stage performance having navigated the qualifying rounds.
Outside of Glasgow, Motherwell fell at the first hurdle in the Conference League when they crashed out at the hands of Sligo Rovers and Dundee United quickly followed them out with a 7-1 aggregate hammering at the hands of AZ Alkmaar. Scotland's only group stage wins in Europe came as Hearts defeated RFS Riga both home and away in the Conference League before failing to reach the knockout stage.
The dire performance saw Scotland leapfrogged by Belgium and drop down a place in the coefficient rankings and clubs will be on alert for the slide continuing. Just 3.5 points were collected this season, leaving Austria just 2.4 points behind Scotland as they bid to move up the rankings.
So, a big turnaround is a must this season. Rangers are guaranteed a shot at the Europa League as a minimum. If Michael Beale's side lose in in the third qualifying round they will go straight to the Europa League group stage. And if the Light Blues lose in the Champions League playoff they will also fall into the Europa League trap door.
However, they will be desperate to reach the group stage once again and improve on the disastrous showing of last year. But for the collective benefit of the Scottish game it's all about getting wins on the board.
That responsibility doesn't just fall on the Glasgow giants pushing for Europe's elite competition, but also Aberdeen, Hearts and either Hibs or Inverness Caley Thistle – who will know their fate in continental competition following Saturday’s Scottish Cup Final.
It's a big campaign for Celtic specifcally as well. Their job could be made easier as there remains hope the Scottish champions could move into Pot 3 for next season's competition. If Manchester City win this year's showpiece final they will have effectively qualified for Pot 1 twice as Champions League winners and English Premier League champions.
In this scenario, Feyenoord will take the spare Pot 1 spot, however if Inter win in Istanbul they'll take the Pot 1 Champions League title holder spot, and Feyenoord drop to Pot 3.
Celtic will be paying close attention to the fate of the Eredivise winners as a move up the groupings would increase their slim hopes of making Pot 3. For the Hoops to move up from Pot 4, five of the six qualifiers would have to have a lower coefficient than Postecoglou's men.
As it stands only three of the 26 teams already in the groups will be ranked below Celtic in the draw. Should the unlikely situation occur, it could provide an easier shot at the group stage for the Scottish champions.
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