Anthony Ralston knows automatic European qualification is key to Celtic’s plans

Anthony Ralston highlighted the “brilliant” benefits of automatic Champions League qualification amid Celtic’s stress-free pre-season preparations.

July and August have in recent years often seen the Hoops – who have won 10 out of the last 11 cinch Premiership titles – involved in crucial early European qualifiers with a squad that is still getting up to speed.

However, winning the league last season coupled with Scotland’s improved co-efficient means Celtic go straight into the group stages of the 2022/23 Champions League, which begins in September.

Boss Ange Postecoglou has been able to plan out a pre-season schedule which includes six friendly matches in the build up to the start of the league campaign at the end of the month.

Ahead of the challenge match against Blackburn at Celtic Park on Saturday, Scotland full-back Ralston confirmed a better preparation for the challenges ahead.

He said: “It is a good change to be able to get more training sessions under our belt, to come together as a team, get the friendlies in and focus on the start of the league campaign.

“Rather than playing the qualifiers, automatically qualifying is brilliant.

“We have all had a good bit of training under our belts, a few games now, a few games more to go and we are all in a good place, we are all fit.

“We have a bit to go but we want to keep improving and not just now, the start of the season as well. We are all looking forward to it.

“It is where you want to play your football, at the highest level, which is the Champions League.

“We will all have a part to play in terms of on the training pitch and also when it comes to the games.

“So we need everyone ready and fit and I am sure we will be.”

Celtic won the title and Premier Sports Cup in