Brendan Rodgers revels in bumper Celtic Champions League bounty as jubilant boss toasts rising MILLIONS

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has revealed his utter delight over the Scottish Premiership title win that will see his side devour untold Champions League riches.

The Irishman has admitted direct entry to the revamped league format – which guarantees two extra games – allows the Parkhead side to rake in 'substantial funds' in their attempt to make an impression while dining at European football's top table. Celtic earned in excess of £30m in 23/34 from the Champions League but that is expected to rise significantly with a bounty of new revenue streams incoming.

Speaking on talkSPORT, when asked about his side's march to title glory, he said: "That's why the league was so important for us this year. Especially with the new format, financially more rewarding, it's the best opportunity the club can get to make substantial funds. And, clearly, from a football perspective, it's brilliant to go and test yourselves at that level."

And that led him to quantifying Celtic's standing in British football and how the spoils of competing in the English Premier League would impact the team he manages and the most competitive league on the planet. He added: "Celtic and Rangers, and I can only talk from a Celtic perspective, are absolutely massive. If Celtic were in the Premier League, it would be up there and, minimum, that top six bracket. You would (need a 100,000-seater stadium). It is absolutely incredible, wherever you go in the world you will meet Celtic supporters. The fanbase, the history of the club, that's what makes it a truly special club."

And the beaming Celtic boss shared his delight after Ademola Lookman's amazing hat-trick won the Europa League Final. Rodgers has a long history with the winger and believes his glory was night was fully deserved.

He said: "I was so happy for him (Lookman) watching the game last night. I go back to my first spell here at Celtic, I met with Ademola, he knew he was going to be leaving Charlton. We looked to get him up here, but it was so early in the window that by the time the window finished, we couldn't afford him. The money was too much. And he ended up going to Everton.

"I always kept in contact with him and when he was at Leipzig, I had a chance to take him in at Leicester. He was brilliant, what a professional, he looks after himself. Those goals he scored (in the Europa League Final), he practiced those. After training, he would do extra finishing. The only sad part for us was at the end of the season we had a clause where we could have bought him for £14m but he went out to Atalanta. And has done absolutely brilliantly.