Celtic first-team coach John Kennedy has ruled out a big summer spending spree and insists it will work in the club’s favour when they take on Stjarnan.
The Bhoys struggled to adapt quickly to new boss Ronny Deila’s style and philosophy while the summer arrivals took time to settle last term and, as a result, Celtic failed to make it to the Champions League proper, losing 2-1 on aggregate to Maribor in the play-off round of qualifiers.
That came after being given a reprieve in the third qualifying round as they were given a 3-0 win in the second leg, having lost the first 4-1 and the second 2-0, as Legia Warsaw had fielded an ineligible player Bartosz Bereszynski.
Kennedy feels that there will be no such problems this time around, however, as everyone now feels settled at the club, and has ruled out the possibility of a host of new signings.
“Last year we came in and there were a lot of changes in personnel and in the backroom team. Players were getting to know the management and the management were getting to know the players,” Kennedy told Celtic TV.
“There was a lot going on and it was difficult.
“You look back now and you realise how much was actually going on and for the players that must have been very difficult to deal with such pressure of trying to get into the Champions League with all those changes happening at the same time.”
The Scottish champions, who are massive 1.03 favourites to retain their title, will play host to their Icelandic counterparts Stjarnan on July 14 or 15, with Celtic Park the venue rather than Murrayfield as it was in the early Champions League qualifiers last term.
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