Brendan Rodgers has revealed that Celtic will not be jetting across the world for the pre-season tour.

As one of the most successful clubs in Scotland, Celtic are always regarded as a favourite when it comes to international tournaments. The popularity is especially on high after this stellar campaign, which has seen the club open up a 24 point advantage over second placed Aberdeen in the Scottish Premier league. Celtic are not only favourites to win the Premier league by a long distance, but they also remain on course for the Scottish Cup.

However, it is understood that the club are so desperate for European success that they are even prepared to skip a lucrative pre-season tour in order to keep the players fresh for as long as possible. Celtic have not made it to the latter stages of the Champions League for several seasons. It was one of the disappointments of the Ronny Deila era. Even Rodgers has been unable to get the club to the last 16 of the Champions League.

Celtic finished bottom of their Champions League group, although it contained heavyweights like Barcelona, Manchester City, and Borussia Monchengladbach. As a result, the club are left even without Europa League football for the second half of the season.

Rodgers has admitted that the Champions League or Europe will be the priority for next season.“We’re virtually there in terms of planning – it has to be Europe.If you’re working in England then clubs go to Australia and America, which I’ve done before.That’s OK when it’s not so critical and the first game of the season is a long way off.But with the Champions League qualifiers in mind, then for competitive European football we have to stay in Europe,” said the former Liverpool manager, who was a major disappointment in the Champions League during his time at Anfield.