Expert fears Celtic to miss out of ‘£45m’ windfall due to ‘massively unfair’ development
It would be “massively unfair” if Celtic miss out on Champions League qualification because of Villarreal.
That’s according to former Hoops hitman Frank McAvennie, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about his former side’s hopes of playing in the competition next season.
Currently, winning the SPFL guarantees automatic qualification for the Champions League.
However, the club that wins the Champions League is also given an automatic place in next year’s competition regardless of league position.
Villarreal have reached this season’s semi-finals but currently sit seventh in La Liga, meaning they are unlikely to qualify for the Champions League through the usual means.
Due to Scotland’s ranking in the UEFA coefficient, Villarreal winning the Champions League means Celtic would lose their automatic qualifying spot, a development that McAvennie has slammed.
“That’s massively unfair, for me. It’s wrong,” McAvennie told Football Insider correspondent Ben Wild.
“It would be ridiculous if Celtic go and win the league and then don’t get what was promised at the start of the season.
“The whole coefficient thing has never made sense to me to be honest.
“I think Villarreal deserve a place in the Champions League if they win it, but there must be another way.
“Celtic are on for £45million or something if they get automatic qualification.
“It would be wrong to lose out on that because of something out of our control.
“Luckily, I can’t see Villarreal doing it.”
Villarreal will face Liverpool in the Champions League semi-finals after overcoming Bayern Munich in the quarters.
Celtic sit six points clear at the top of the Premiership as it stands.
In other news, Ange Postecoglou Celtic quit claim missed after journalist’s Man City reveal.