Celtic fans were hoping for the best but braced for the worst. It was perhaps just as well no one had a clue what was going on at the revamped Champions League draw.
But when Cristiano Ronaldo pressed the big AI button and UEFA’s Skynet super computer produced the fixtures, Hoops fans were pleasantly surprised.
Optimistic even. There was another one on the way when Parkhead chiefs announced the fairly reasonably packages for the four home games, and fans discovered they wouldn’t need to pawn off the family jewels to get in after all.
It all fuelled the belief this could finally be the season when Celtic do something in Europe’s top competition. Sure, Borussia Dortmund, Atalanta and Aston Villa are tough trips, while Dinamo Zagreb before Christmas won’t be a canter.