Celtic’s European ambitions ‘will not be determined by Rangers rivalry’

As the clear Premiership winners, Celtic are guaranteed a lucrative place in next season’s UEFA Champions League groups and Rangers could yet join them by beating Eintracht Frankfurt in Seville in Wednesday’s Europa League final.

Rather than aiming to outdo their city neighbors as part of the Old Firm rivalry, Postecoglou insists Celtic’s own European past successes are the only encouragement for his side to take on the continent’s best and their own ambitions in the next advance the season.

“I just don’t use any other club as a point of reference for us. I said it a couple of weeks ago and I think people got it wrong when I said if I need inspiration all I have to do is look at the trophy we have to have.” “I won in Europe. It’s not because I’m trying to downplay other people’s achievements. You don’t need other reference points. The reference points are in this building. I see them every day. “I met Martin O’Neill last night and he took that club to the UEFA Cup final, those are our reference points. That’s the level we were at and we want to stay at. I don’t want to downplay the performances of Rangers or any other club, but I’m not going to use them as a reference point for who we are or how good we can be.

“I know what we have to be, everywhere I see this football club.”