Lennon: Looking to make group stages of the Champions League

The Scottish Premier League champions enter the Champions League at the third qualifying stage and, despite admitting he expects a difficult task, Lennon wants to make it into the tournament proper.

"We want to progress in Europe, I think that's important for the players and the supporters more than anyone else," he told the club's official website.

"I'm very wary of the qualifiers, they are very difficult games and our first one is going to be very soon.

"The qualifiers are a major concern because they are always very hard fought and we just want to get it right this year, so we are doing a lot of preparation."

The Hoops played in the Europa League last season after their defeat to FC Sion was overturned by UEFA when it emerged their Swiss opponents had fielded ineligible players.

This time around they have a chance to reach the group stages of the Champions League and Lennon believes a pre-season schedule featuring eye-catching friendlies against Ajax, Inter Milan and Real Madrid can suitably prepare his side for the challenge.

He said: "We had a very good campaign last year in a very tough group so the players have a belief about them that they can compete at that level.

"I think it's important the players get a taste of European football before we go into the qualifiers.

"It's imperative we make inroads in Europe again this year and it would be nice to get through the qualifiers and into the Champions League group stages, but I'm under no illusion how difficult that's going to be.

"Everyone wants to play at the big table and that's our whole focus. We go into this as champions and that is a fantastic feeling, so hopefully that will give the players an extra spring in their step. If we qualify then you never know where it will take us."

Celtic are currently in Germany preparing for the new season and face Bundesliga outfit FC Augsburg in their opening friendly on Tuesday evening.