BRENDAN RODGERS has taken on bigger names on bigger stages than Zenit St Petersburg in the Europa League. This upcoming double-header could become two of his biggest games as Celtic manager, however.

Winning prizes and earning plaudits in the Premiership is one thing, but it is what he and his side do in continental competition that will be seen and judged beyond these shores.

And that is why the Europa League is so important for the Parkhead boss and his players this season as they attempt to prove they are progressing and are capable of mixing it at a higher level than our domestic game.

It is all about the prestige and the finance for Celtic when it comes to the Champions League and they have made the most of both in the last two seasons as Barcelona, Manchester City, Bayern Munich and PSG have rocked up in Glasgow and tens of millions of pounds have been banked.

The benefit of being amongst the big boys was shown once again last week when Celtic released their latest set of financial figures.

Revenue has jumped to just over £90million, while there is around £30million cash in the bank. Come this time next year, both of those numbers will have increased once again.

That is the shiny side of the Champions League coin but Celtic have seen the opposite on more than one occasion and suffered their share of bloody noses along the way.

Now, Rodgers has a chance to come out fighting. There are no guarantees that he will be able to lead his side through the rounds, though.

Having achieved all that they could expect to in Group B and finished above Anderlecht, the suggestion in some quarters was that Celtic could set their sights on a prolonged run of European action in the second half of the season.

That theory will be put to the test at Parkhead on Thursday night and in Russia seven days later as Rodgers finds himself in the opposite dugout to Roberto Mancini once again.

As he looked ahead to the first leg last week, the Celtic boss spoke about the calibre of club – Napoli and Borussia Dortmund were two examples – that are involved in the Europa League this term.

And when you throw in the likes of Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and Marseille, it is easy to see why Rodgers said he was a ‘realist’. He wants to be ‘competitive’ but admitted that ‘there is still a big gulf’.

Celtic may have dropped down a level but they still have to punch well above their weight if they are to make any kind of impression in Europe.

It is by doing just that, by seeing off the household names and taking a few scalps, that those that wish to ply their trade away from the East End will bring themselves to the attentions of suitors south of the border and further afield.

Indeed, if Rodgers has any ambitions of one day moving on from Celtic, it will be what he does on the continent rather than his Scottish successes that will have chairmen on the phone with offers.

When there are clubs in the competition that could spend all the funds Celtic have in the bank on one player, it highlights the size of the task that Rodgers is presented with as his side return to European action.

That won’t necessarily lessen the demands amongst supporters, however, and Celtic will be expected to put up a fight to the side that are currently second in the Russian Premier League.

Seeing some of the stars of the game in action and having the tills ticking over into the millions is all well and good, but it is performances and results that fans really want. That is the challenge for Celtic.

They see themselves as a Champions League club, now they must prove themselves as a Europa League team.