Great Champions League Draw plus Elena Sadiku her aspirations for Celtic

The Celtic Star

·5 July 2024

Great Champions League Draw plus Elena Sadiku her aspirations for Celtic

On the eve of today’s UEFA Women’s Champions League draw, The Celtic Star spoke to history-making Celtic manager Elena Sadiku in an exclusive interview held at Celtic Park.

Earlier today Celtic FC Women drawn to face KuPS Kuopio of Finland in the first round of UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifying. Elena Sadiku’s side were drawn in Group 3 and will face off against the Finnish champions in their semi-final tie on 4 September.

After lifting their first ever SWPL title last campaign, Elena Sadiku’s side entered the competition via the Champions Route and have been drawn into a four-team group, which will be played as two semi-final matches. The other two teams drawn in Celtic’s group are FC Gintra of Luthuania and Agarista CSF of Moldova.

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The winners of both semi-final ties will then advance to the final to determine who moves on to the next round of qualification. The two losing semi-finalists will also play out a third-placed play-off. The semi-finals will take place on 4 September, with both the final and third-placed match scheduled for three days later.

The location and venue for the matches is still yet to be decided and will be confirmed in due course, with all four fixtures being hosted by one of the four teams.

Would it not be great to host these games at Celtic Park?

@CelticFCWomen will face KuPS Kuopio then either FC Gintra or Agarista CSF Anenii Noi in @UWCL group 3 (round one), games on 4 & 7 Sept, ahead of the draw The Celtic Star spoke to Elena Sadiku...Great draw, COYGIG!
– Friday, 5 July 2024

That’s a fine draw for Celtic but the SWPL1 runners-up with play Arsenal in their play-off round. That it itself sums up the real benefit for Celtic FC Women entering the Champions League as Champions.

Sitting beside the SWPL1 trophy once more, Elena revealed her excitement for the new season to start. She touches on the squad’s upcoming August training camp in Sweden and hints at some of the great pre-season games that we have coming up.

She speaks on the incomings, the outgoings and how she feels certain Celtic players deserve a spot in their national teams. And yes, she does name names…in fact she pulls no punches!

I ask her about the extra pressure that comes with having a league title to defend, and to get the fans even more excited, the manager delivers a message to the supporters ahead of the new campaign and we spoke about the excitement surrounding today’s Champions League draw…

@CelticFCWomen will face KuPS Kuopio then either FC Gintra or Agarista CSF Anenii Noi in @UWCL group 3 (round one), games on 4 & 7 Sept, ahead of the draw The Celtic Star spoke to Elena Sadiku...Great draw, COYGIG!
– Friday, 5 July 2024