Celtic midfielder Joe Ledley eyes another Champions League run

The thrill of playing Champions League football continues to underline Joe Ledley's commitment to Celtic.

And the Welsh midfielder, fresh from a late-season holiday as manager Neil Lennon rests key players, dismissed talk of a transfer back to Cardiff.

"It's the best competition in the world," said Ledley, 26, whose contract with Celtic runs until next summer.

"We had a taste of it this season and I hope we can do the same next season and prove how good a team we are."

Ledley joined Celtic from the Bluebirds in July 2010 and has enjoyed winning the Scottish Premier League and reaching the Champions League last 16 with the Glasgow side.

However, he admits that had he been weighing up a move in the same direction now, with Cardiff promoted to the English Premier League, the decision would be tougher.

"Yes, it would be difficult, obviously with the Premier League for them," he said.

"But if you look at Celtic - it's a massive club. It's a great club and a great city and I am really happy here.

"I have never witnessed a club like it - the fans take over three stands at an away game."

Asked about transfer speculation linking him with a move to Malky Mackay's Cardiff outfit, Ledley said: "I don't know anything about it.

"I haven't spoken to my agent. It's just paper talk. All I can do is concentrate on my football and hopefully stay at Celtic.

"In pre-season I can sit down with my agent and with the people at Celtic and hopefully come to an agreement."

Ledley warns that it will be difficult for Celtic to reach the Champions League group stages next season, with the club having to play the first of their three qualifying rounds in the summer.

"It is going to be a long season," he added. "We are back in earlier this pre-season again and it is going to be as difficult as last season.

"But hopefully we can do what we did this season and make the Champions League, it would be a fantastic achievement if we could.

"Champions League games at Celtic Park - it is the best atmosphere I have ever witnessed."

You can follow Keir Murray on Twitter.