THERE are many targets the Celtic players want to meet this season, and the first of those is qualification for the group stages of the UEFA Champions League.

That will involve safely navigating through four qualifying rounds, but having kicked off their campaign with a 3-1 win over FK Sarajevo last week, the Hoops are confident of reaching the second qualifying round of the competition.

Jozo Simunovic played in that tie in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and he explained in an exclusive interview with the official match programme that he and his team-mates are focused on achieving their European dream.

“The Champions League is the best competition in club football,” the Croatian defender said. “That’s what we’re always chasing, it’s what we’re always looking for and where we always want to be. In the same way we gave everything in the first game, we’ll do the same in the second, third, fourth, hopefully all the way to qualification.

“It would mean a lot to play in the Champions League again. It’s always a very rewarding experience, and we’re going to do everything we can, the coaches, the squad, everyone, to get there this year.

“It would be better to go straight in, don’t get me wrong. But what can we do? It is what it is, and now we need to prove that we can be there, and that we deserve to be there.

“We prove that by winning games, winning qualifiers, progressing through the rounds, and our reward is being part of it. We’d love to go straight in, but this is where we are. And it’s good for us because we can test ourselves.”

Praised by players and supporters the world over, European nights at Celtic Park are special. The atmosphere generated by the Paradise faithful transcends the hype, the talent, the money of club football’s biggest competitions, and Simunovic says it’s something the players on the pitch will never tire of.

“The noise on European nights at Celtic Park is amazing,” he said, “and no matter how many times you play in these games, it always catches you by surprise.

“Every game is something different, and there are different things at stake. One thing is constant, though, and that’s what it means to the fans, the players, the backroom staff, the media. The noise is what makes European competition and nothing compares to Celtic Park.”

Read the full and exclusive interview with Jozo Simunovic ONLY in the official match programme. On sale at the game tonight.

Jozo: We want to play on the biggest stage in club football