Celtic have quickly shifted their attention to the Europa League after their early exit from the Champions League, and Brendan Rodgers is determined to inspire his squad with echoes of the past.
The manager has pointed back to Martin O’Neill’s 2003 side, which shocked Europe by battling all the way to the final, suggesting that his current crop can still carve out their own history.
However, the statistics paint a more challenging picture. Opta’s model gives Celtic only a 2.2% chance of lifting the trophy, a figure that leaves them far from the tournament favourites.
Aston Villa currently leads the race with a commanding 23.3% chance of being crowned champions, while Roma sits at 13.0% and Ange Postecoglou’s Nottingham Forest come in at 10.2%. For Celtic, even reaching the final looks like an uphill climb, with their probability capped at 5.2%.
According to @OptaAnalyst’s super computer, Postecoglou’s Nottingham Forest are third favourites (10.2%) to win the Europa League behind Aston Villa (23.3%) and Roma (13.0%).
pic.twitter.com/QwbX4pQMXr— Sacha Pisani (@Sachk0)
September 24, 2025
That said, there are signs of encouragement. The data suggests Rodgers’ men still have a 25% chance of reaching the quarter-finals, underlining that they remain competitive despite being outsiders. A deep run would require resilience in both the group stage and knockout rounds, but the potential is there.
Rodgers has repeatedly stressed that his players must approach the competition with ambition rather than disappointment. He wants them to see the Europa League not as a consolation prize, but as an opportunity. Performances from new arrival Sebastian Tounekti and striker Kelechi Iheanacho have already hinted at the team’s ability to trouble stronger opposition.
If Celtic can build momentum and harness the energy of their supporters, they could spring a surprise and remind Europe that the Hoops are never a team to underestimate.