MX23RW : Friday, November 15 05:45:33| >> :600:164972:164972:

Brendan Rodgers: 'Summer season would benefit Scottish clubs in Europe'

Rodgers calls for SPFL summer season
© SilverHub
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers believes that the SPFL should move to a summer season to give Scottish teams a better chance of competing in Europe.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has claimed that the SPFL should switch to a summer season to give teams a better chance of competing in Europe.

The Hoops were again Scotland's only representatives in the group stages of European competition for the sixth successive season, but have already been eliminated from the Champions League.

Rodgers believes that the current setup in the country is failing to prepare teams for continental competition and making it difficult for them to progress beyond the preliminary rounds.

"It's getting colder and in terms of coaching it's tough," Rodgers told Sky Sports News. "We're blessed in terms of what we have here compared to other teams, but if you take a developing kid for example, he's off during the best months of the year. It was minus eight here this morning.

"I would say that there is an argument to say a season which starts in February to November would actually work up here and there would be benefits for clubs. There would be financial benefits and benefits for coaching in the warmer months. Then when you are midway through your season you get the Champions League qualifiers. Astana had played 22 games by the time we faced them - and that's remarkable because we had only played once.

"If we don't qualify and then go on to win a league and cup what is said is that 'you didn't make the Champions League'. It's a massive prize - and you see what it gives you, the learning, the games and the fans love it - brilliant. To not be given the best chance to achieve it puts you on the back foot."

Celtic started their European campaign with a shock 1-0 defeat to Gibraltar's Lincoln Red Imps before winning 3-0 in Glasgow.

ID:286181: cacheID:286181:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2491:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers looks nervous on the bench during his side's 7-0 Champions League loss away to Barcelona at the Camp Nou on September 13, 2016
Read Next:
Rodgers: 'We showed Barca too much respect'
>
Read more about Brendan Rodgers Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Celtic1110103132831
2Aberdeen11101024101431
3RangersRangers11713168822
4Dundee UnitedDundee Utd125431813519
5Motherwell116141514119
6St Mirren134361722-515
7Dundee123361824-612
8Kilmarnock123361525-1012
9Ross County132651021-1112
10St Johnstone133191627-1110
11Hearts132381420-69
12Hibernian121561118-78


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!