Former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has revealed his love for Scottish football and has called for Celtic to do their utmost to become a major player in the Champions League.
Speaking to the Sunday Post, Mancini proclaimed that Scottish football fans are the best in the world, and declared his interest in seeing both Celtic and Rangers compete in the Premier League despite knowing that it is highly unlikely.
Roberto Mancini then suggested he would like to manage Celtic in the future, but by claiming that he might decide to appoint himself should the club reach a higher level, it sort of came off as a backhanded compliment.
The Scottish fans are the best in the world, I love them.
In one way it would be nice to see Celtic and Rangers in the Premier League, but I don’t think it will ever happen because it would also be the end of Scottish football.
I want to add one thing; If Celtic were to build a team strong enough to regularly compete in the Champions League, I might decide to manage them one day.
For me, that is the next step for them, and one which I believe they are trying to take.
Winning the league has become normal for them. They have the fans and the history. Now they have to strive to become an important player at the top level in Europe.
So aside from the financial benefits of regular Champions League participation, Celtic would also win the possibility of Roberto Mancini deciding to take over. Surely the club must now strive to achieve that.
In all honesty, there was surely no intent to sound as if he is above the club, and there's always the chance of something being lost in translation, but it makes for a funny line nonetheless.
Brendan Rodgers has been doing a splendid job since taking over in the summer, but you'd have to assume he would be happy to step aside and hand over the reigns to Mancini should he manage to Celtic back to a place where they are competing in Europe every year.
Fingers crossed, Celtic fans. Maybe, one day.
