Watch Brendan Rodgers' Celtic press conference in full as he gets honest over 'peak' form ahead of Champions League bow

Brendan Rodgers is targeting a Celtic place in Europe beyond Christmas as he prepares to lead the Hoops into Champions League territory.

Feyenoord at De Kuip are the first task for the Irishman in Group E, with Atletico Madrid and Lazio waiting further down the line as they look to get out of the elite group stage for the first time since Neil Lennon's first stint in charge. While they did impress at this stage under Ange Postecoglou last season, Celtic ultimately exited European football before Christmas.

Rodgers is keen to make sure that doesn't happen. He said ahead of the Champions League opener: "Any team at this level is always very difficult, I don’t think there is an easy game here and obviously being Dutch champions and the great history of this country of producing teams and players, so we know the challenge. But we are looking forward to it as the first game of six so let’s see where it takes us.

“I think success for us as a club is to be in Europe after Christmas and that’s what our aim is, whatever competition that is in, as long as we are still in Europe. But anything is possible in the group, and we look to be competitive in all the games.

“People ask you to forecast what it is you want to do and what you want to achieve but I think that how we want the play the game with our competitive spirit, that’s important in the Champions League because you are playing against top teams.

“We have seen already this season that the spirit of this team will never be broken. You have to have that at this level when you are a team like ourselves coming into it, when people want to dismiss you in the tournament. It’s about being competitive, you have to work very hard, you have to work very smart, and let’s see where it