Copenhagen are exactly where Celtic should be in the Champions League and here are 4 reasons why

Every year there's a Champions League fairytale story but, this season, Copenhagen wouldn't want you to call it that.

Because there's nothing good luck about it. They've had a four-point plan to get here. The Danish champions went blow for blow with Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Galatasaray in their group and their refusal to cower and shy away from the top sides in Europe was the envy of mid-sized teams across the continent. It continues to be: they lost 3-1 to Manchester City in the first leg of their last 16 tie, sure, but Pep Guardiola's passionate celebrations at full-time spoke volumes about how the Danes had them on the ropes.

It's been a project years in the making at Copenhagen. For a decade and a half, they have intensely focused on two things: One has been their academy, giving young players experience at the top level. The other has been intelligent, forward-thinking recruitment.

One of the teams looking on with a shade of green in their eyes should, and will, be Celtic. Fans of a team who haven't played Champions League knockout football for more than a decade, or won ANY sort of knockout Euro tie since 2004, will understandably be watching and thinking, 'why on Earth can't we do that?'

The budget argument often rolled out when the Hoops struggle in Europe is one thing, but Copenhagen are working with a substantially weaker hand on that front. Swiss Ramble have Celtic's annual wage bill at just over £60m per year; Copenhagen's stands a £36m.

Moreover, Transfermarkt have the two squads valued at £114.8m and £57.1m respectively, and while that's not always the strongest indicator, it's broadly backed up by Sportingpedia – who have Celtic's at €121.5m (£103.3m) and Copenhagen's €62.65m (£53.3m). No