Stephen Bradley targets European group football for Shamrock Rovers

Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley has his sights set firmly on the group stage of European competition this season, as his side prepare to take on Celje in their Europa League third round qualifier.

Rovers are in Slovenia for the first leg of their tie, and having come down from the Champions League qualifiers, have a safety net of Conference League play-off show Celje get the better of them.

A win over the Slovenian champions would guarantee group stage football for the Hoops, be that in the Europa League of the Conference, with a further play-off deciding where they go.

Group football in Europe offers a huge financial boost for League of Ireland clubs and for Bradley, it's where Rovers need to be.

"For any club in Europe, and we’re no different, European football is where you want to be," he said. "You want to be in group stages and that's our aim.

"We know it's difficult, but that’s aim and it’s important [for the club] both on the pitch and off the pitch."

Bradley is aware of the threat that Celje will offer and just how dangerous they can be in front of goal.

The Slovenians have already played two rounds in the Champions League qualifiers, beating Estonian side Flora 7-1 on aggregate in the first round of the qualifiers before Slovan Bratislava beat them 6-1 aggregate in the second round.

That result against Bratislava was more lop-sided than Celje perhaps deserved after they drew 1-1 in the first leg, only to lose the second leg 5-0 when Damjan Vuklisevic was sent-off after 15 minutes.

"They're very good going forward," Bradley said. "I think you just got to look at how they score so many goals in transition.

"We know they're a team that have internationals, they have quality players in the final third, so like always