CELTIC are all-but certain to ensure their place in the Europa League knock-out stage even if they are torn apart in Paris.

Unless Anderlecht,with no points and no goals after four group games, get something at home against a Bayern Munich team which still has a lot to play given they can finish above PSG, the Belgians would have to win by four clear goals at Celtic Park in the last match to finish third.

And while the Scottish champions have been known to put their fans through the ringer, that’s not going to happen.

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Celtic are a big club but they are not a big team in terms of the Champions League. Third place is far from a consolation and, indeed, Brendan Rodgers’s men would have half a chance of a decent run in the Europa League.

Tom Boyd, the former captain, never played in Europe after Christmas in his eleven years at the club. He was in the squad during the 2003 run to Seville but didn’t get his boots on. So he realises what this achievement would mean to Celtic.

“For Celtic to be in Europe after Christmas would be phenomenal,” said Boyd. “It does look likely as long as Anderlecht don’t take anything against Bayern and even then, on the evidence of what we’ve seen and from our game in Belgium, I don’t think they have improved drastically in terms of them having to beat us 4-0.

“The players will have a lot of games but that’s what where you want to be, having big games week-in, week-out.

“Europe after Christmas is progress for Celtic. Of course it is. We didn’t manage that last year and when you consider the group we are in, third place was probably always the realistic aim. PSG and Bayern are, right now, way above what we can do on the park.

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“It’s another level, it’s progress and one more tick for Brendan.”

Celtic made the UEFA Cup, as was, quarter-final in 2004 and while there have been three last-16 places in the Champions League since then, that’s as close as they have been to a final since they reached one the year before.

“Celtic can be competitive in the Europa League as long as they keep learning,” said Boyd. “We will not come up against a PSG. I don’t think we will come up against a team you would fear.

“There will be good quality sides in the competition but coming to Celtic Park is not easy. What Celtic have to do is not give away cheap goals, and that has happened down the years, but if Celtic can be a bit more solid at the back then we have a chance.”

Boyd claimed the PSG team which thrashed Celtic 5-0 was the best team he ever saw play at Parkhead; even better than the PSG he faced in 1995 which played Boyd and is pals off the park in a 3-0 win.

“PSG, and I think most people would say this, are probably the best team that have come to Celtic Park,” said Boyd. “

“They gave us a football lesson. They showed how football should be played. But I do believe Celtic have learned and improved.

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“They played well far better against Bayern and we should have taken something from the game.

“You’ve got to make sure what happened at Celtic Park doesn’t happen again because that could dent their confidence a little bit.”

“Their frontline, certainly, is phenomenal. It was a difficult watch from our point of view but at the same time it was enjoyable because you were watching a team playing football the way you want to see the game played.

“We have seen so many good players come to Celtic Park and they were up there with the best. Hopefully, we won’t just be watching them on Wednesday, and we can take part in the game.”

Tom Boyd was at Hampden Park yesterday to promote Trust & Phoenix Hyundai giving away a car at Sunday’s Betfred Cup Final with the launch of Superdraw. Electrify Marketing & Communications on behalf of the SPFL Trust.