On Friday we heard a welcome, and overdue, statement from Celtic about where our future lies.

As much as I’m critical of the chairman and other figures at Celtic, on Friday I thought they were broadly on point.

While I’ve defended Joe McHugh for asking certain questions—ones that had some people shaking their heads as though a shareholder and a fan media blogger isn’t supposed to raise issues fans want answers to—I appreciated a lot of what I heard. I’ve also liked much of what I’ve read since, especially about the questions that received substantive answers.

The chairman spoke positively about our future, particularly our ambitions in Europe.

This is, frankly, preaching to the choir. It’s exactly what this blog has been advocating for a long time: our focus should be on Europe. That thinking shouldn’t waver, no matter what happens domestically or in Europe. Our vision must extend beyond simply being the biggest club in Scotland.

Because here’s the truth: we are the biggest club in Scotland. There’s no sign of that changing anytime soon. We’re so far ahead that even a dramatic shift wouldn’t close the gap. Another key takeaway from the AGM was Chris MacKay reminding us of the club’s substantial surplus. This reserve exists for scenarios like failing to qualify for the Champions League—a safety net so can continue pursuing signings and other priorities without drastic changes to the club’s structure being necessary first. The surplus is, as he put it, “our runway.”

Of course, there were the usual warnings about the risks of not qualifying and comparisons with the club across the city.

While I find some of that a bit disingenuous—their issues go far beyond missing one season of Champions League football—the underlying message is sound. Champions League participation is financially transformative, and we should aim to be there consistently.

But if we miss the odd year, we’re in a position to weather the storm, thanks to our careful financial management.

What stood out on Friday was the rejection of the outdated notion that Celtic’s ambition is merely to stay one step ahead of our rivals. That idea was dismissed outright.

Whether some people still cling to it privately, we’ll judge the club on its actions soon enough.

But I believe the leadership gets it. This summer should have been proof enough, as events across the city descended into chaos. Their internal strife underlines how far ahead we are—and how unlikely they are to catch us without a colossal misstep on our part.

For them to close the gap, we’d have to regress significantly, and any signs of that would be obvious to all. Fans wouldn’t tolerate it. More importantly, it makes no business sense. Celtic thrives when we’re ambitious—when we aim higher, back the manager properly, and seek to progress in Europe. That’s when the rewards come: Champions League qualification, points in the group stages, progression to knockout rounds. It’s when fans fill the stands, when fan media is happiest and when the tills are overflowing.

Clinging to an old rivalry doesn’t make financial or strategic sense.

The real rewards lie in playing continental football after Christmas—especially in the Champions League. That’s where our future lies.

Friday marked a public acknowledgment of that truth.

It was a statement of intent, a clear sign that the club is looking beyond Scotland.

For those who hoped Celtic would rest on its laurels and focus only on breaking petty domestic records, this was the final nail in the coffin. Dominance in Scotland is now a given. If we aim for success in Europe, domestic dominance will take care of itself.

Hearing the club’s leadership speak in these terms gave me a real sense of vindication. For the first time, it feels like we’ve reached the point many of us hoped for—a place where Celtic is genuinely looking to take that next step. While some at the club might argue they’ve always had that vision, this was the first time it’s been expressed so boldly and unequivocally.

Unsurprisingly, much of the media chose to focus on the soap opera elements of the AGM.

Even I addressed that drama on Friday night, as I wanted to make a clear defence of fan media before tackling anything else. But the real story was this particular club statement of ambition. It has profound implications for Celtic over the next five to ten years.

Based on those remarks, I now believe we’re primed and ready to step onto the bigger stage in a way that’s meaningful and real. After a period of complacency, the club is finally putting a proper structure in place under a manager who signals we mean business.

We are, at last, to quote the manager last year, about to see “the real Celtic.”