The curtain has come down on yet another season of European football for Celtic after finishing bottom of their Champions League group - and yet there seems little upset over a failed campaign. Brendan Rodgers's side collected four points and a solitary win in a section which consisted of Dutch champions Feyenoord, Serie A runners-up Lazio and Spanish giants Atletico Madrid during six hard-fought games at Europe's elite level.

It's far from a badge of honour to finish at the base of a group but it's certainly no disgrace either. Celtic were no embarrassment on the greatest club stage of all. Manchester United and Newcastle United with their untold millions, who allegedly hail from the self-proclaimed 'best football league in the world' can fight it out to see who claims that particular crown. Like Celtic, they also finished in dead last in their respective groups.

Except for the 6-0 mauling in the Metropolitano against Diego Simeone's charges it is fair to say that this was the ultimate European campaign of fine margins and what-ifs for Celtic. Four in particular stand out.

  • What if the likes of Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda and Liel Abada hadn’t missed crucial matches through injury?
  • What if Celtic had invested in the four quality players that the manager said were needed to truly compete at this level?
  • What if Celtic had not been reduced to nine men on matchday one?
  • What if that Luis Palma marginally offside goal against Lazio in the home match had not been disallowed?

The answer to all? Celtic would be headed to the group stages of the Europa League that's what.

After a bruising two seasons at this level Celtic may well have restored some of their battered pride with that victory on Wednesday. It will be a while yet before they completely restore their respectability and reputation on the European stage but the win against the Dutch should be seen as a start - from small acorns and all that.

The Scottish champions can at least console themselves that £2.5 million was added to the balance sheet with victory. Every penny can all be added to the January pot when it comes to bringing in the quality which Rodgers desperately craves and Celtic so badly need to progress.

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Yet for all their flaws, this team weren't so far away as some would have you believe. The first 45 minutes against Atletico Madrid at Celtic Park was amongst the most scintillating display from the men in green and white since Martin O'Neill's side regularly went toe-to-toe with European heavyweights from 2000 to 2005.

This week's action also marked the end of an era in the Champions League for Celtic. It's been a rollercoaster, to say the least since they first competed in the group stage proper back in 2000/01. There is a poignant symmetry to the fact that Celtic bookended their Champions League with wins against sides from the Eredivisie. They knocked out the then-Dutch champions Ajax at the qualifying stage in their first shot at the big time and the tournament format as we know it ended by defeating the Dutch champions.

Looking back at the great nights from the six-match group stage era, Celtic have laid claim to so many great Scottish football memories; defeating Juventus 4-3 in a thriller under O'Neill; recording incredible back-to-back last 16 qualifications under Gordon Strachan; Neil Lennon's stunning triumph over Barcelona and the Northern Irishman also guiding Celtic to the knockout phase. The club has certainly enjoyed some wonderful Champions League highs over the years but there can be no doubt the more painful results of recent years have been chastening.

That's why the midweek Champions League win over Feyenoord should represent a major turning point. The hunger, drive and ambition should be there with everybody connected to the club to do it all over again next year and that will be driven by the manager himself. That's why he says he returned after.

From 2024/25 there will be 36 teams competing in the Champions League and each one will play eight matches against eight different forms of opposition with four at home and four away. In the 'Swiss model', the top eight will qualify automatically for the last 16 with those ranked 9-24th competing in a two-legged playoff to book a place with the best.

UEFA are supposedly going all in with promises of increased revenue for clubs as well as what they believe will lead to a more competitive European landscape. Time will tell on that front but it's why Celtic will go flat out to win this title and secure the vast sums of money on offer when the Champions League returns with the new format in the next campaign.

Rodgers is well aware of what that means financially but it's also important his charges are prepared for what will be coming on the pitch. To face eight games against the best in Europe, it helps to know what winning feels like.

He said: "I said to the players before the game, whether you win, lose or draw, that this is a competition and a level which can dent your confidence, but when you finish it you’re going to be better players for it and will have gained invaluable experiences.

"It was a big moment because it’s been so long – to when I was here the first time. It’s always been talked about, a win in the Champions League at home. They’ve now cleared that sort of barrier – we can look forward now."

Rodgers is right that Celtic did evolve as the group stage wore on. They showed they could compete for spells and slug it out with some of the best that European football has to offer. To improve, consistency is a must and to find that will need quality. The Celtic board now have to back Rodgers in January and allow him to bring in the players to enable the club to grow ahead in time for this new European landscape's arrival. And before that, there's the not-insignificant matter of a league title challenge from a rejuvenated Rangers under Philippe Clement.

The victory over Feyenoord should serve as a fresh start and a chance for everybody at Celtic to hit the recalibrate button. It's time for Celtic to stop talking the talk and start walking the walk as a big club.