Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell feels his club’s participation in the pre-season International Champions Cup (ICC) tournament will improve their global standing because of the high profile nature of the tournament.
Should Celtic win the Scottish Premiership title this season, they will play in the second round of Champions League qualifiers on the 12th or 13th of July, and the second leg on the 19th or 20th.
Celtic are desperate to get back into the Champions League after missing out in the last two seasons, but in the middle of their qualification campaign, the club are also scheduled to participate in the International Champions Cup.
They will play Leicester City on the 23rd at Parkhead, and Barcelona in Dublin on 30th July, in between the two legs of the third round of their Champions League qualifier.
While many feel it could disrupt their bid to get back into the Champions League group stage, the club think otherwise, and Lawwell believes the high profile nature of the pre-season tournament will help improve Celtic’s global standing.
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Celtic chief executive Lawwell was quoted as saying by STV: “We are delighted to be invited to take part in such a unique and prestigious international tournament and join together with the other great names in world football in what we know will be a fantastic sporting occasion.
“Celtic is proud to enjoy its own global profile and we are sure our involvement with the biggest names in the game will only increase interest in the club on a global stage.
“It is magnificent news that our supporters in Scotland and Ireland will be able to enjoy such exciting matches and we are sure our participation will be warmly welcomed by our fans who will look forward to Celtic meeting such a high calibre of opposition in Barcelona, Inter Milan and Leicester City.”
The Bhoys are four points clear at the top of the league table with a game in hand, and will take on Hearts at Parkhead after the international break on 2nd April.
