Brendan Rodgers told Europa League gives Celtic something to fight for amid 'relentless' Champions League money divide

Brendan Rodgers has been told the Europa League can actually give Celtic 'something to fight for' on the European front.

And that with the Champions League money divide being what it is, it means Rodgers men are hamstrung before even kicking a ball against some of Europe's biggest and baddest. It's do-or-die in Rome for the Hoops who must beat Lazio to keep a sliver of hope of European football after Christmas alive, with a solitary point in the group coming in a battling draw with Atletico Madrid at Parkhead. Even then former captain and club icon Scott Brown knows the Hoops having the lowest squad value by the hundreds of millions to their closest group rivals in Feyenoord.

And it's for that reason Broony believes the Europa League dropdown wouldn't be so bad for Rodgers' side as it would give them a level playing field to fight for. He reckons his former side will always be 'punching above their weight' with the money chasm in Europe's top division.

He told luckyblock.com: "It’ll be lovely if they can get that third-place spot in their group. It would mean European football after Christmas in the Europa League, which is a big deal for the club and gives them something else to play for in the second half of the season.

"I know it becomes relentless for the fans coming in on Thursdays and Sundays, but they’ll still be in Europe and still fighting for something – on top of the title and Scottish Cup – so Celtic should definitely be aiming for that third-place finish in the group. But those games against Lazio and Feyenoord will of course be tough.”

He added: "It's always going to be hard for Celtic to challenge in Europe. With the amount of money that the Premier League and other top leagues in Europe make, Celtic