Peter Schmeichel reveals secret strength behind Kasper bond as Celtic told why new Champions League format suits

Brendan Rodgers’ men will play eight games at Europe’s top table – four at home and four away – in the new 36-team league

Peter Schmeichel feels Celtic can benefit from the Champions League’s expanded format.

The former Danish shot-stopper lifted European club football’s greatest prize with Manchester United in 1999 and his son Kasper will star for the Hoops in this season’s new league system. Celtic were in pot three and will play eight games – four at home and four away – in the 36-team league.

The top eight sides will qualify automatically for the last 16 and the teams finishing from ninth to 24th will have a play-off against each other with the eight winners going through. Schmeichel feels the new format gives Celtic a better chance of qualifying than the six-game group stage, with the Scottish champions and 1967 winners of the tournament having won just six matches in the last five years.

They last made the last 16 in 2012-13 and Schmeichel claims Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers will have done his homework. “If you read Brendan’s quotes, he’s someone who’s very ambitious,” said Schmeichel, who was talking on behalf of Panini and their Official Premier League Trading Card game Adrenalyn XL.

“He’s a manager who never cuts corners. He’s very, very knowledgeable and knows precisely what it is he wants. So obviously, domestically, he wants to win everything.

“He’s been brave enough to come out and say that, and he’s also said we want to do better in the Champions League. With this new format, it might just suit a club like Celtic a little bit better than the previous format.