Scottish Gossip: Celtic, Barcelona, Champions League, Dembele, Shinnie

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Manager Brendan Rodgers promises that an improved Celtic will return to the Champions League next season, as the 2-0 defeat by Barcelona ended their chances of playing in Europe after Christmas. (Daily Record)

Striker Moussa Dembele, who missed a great chance to equalise against Barcelona, promises that he will still be at Celtic next season when he hopes to have another crack at the Champions League. (Sun)

Celtic signing target Darlington Nagbe, the Portland Timbers midfielder, posted a video of the atmosphere at the game against Barcelona, accompanied by the exclamation "Wow!!!!" The 26-year-old USA international was a guest of the club. (Scotsman)

Lionel Messi celebrates with Neymar and Andre Gomes after giving Barcelona the lead at Celtic Park

Kilmarnock striker Kris Boyd says he urged Rangers to move for Nagbe, a team-mate from his days in America's north-west. "He'd be a great signing for Celtic if they could get him. I played with him for a season and, for me, he's ideally suited to the British game," said the former Rangers goalscorer. (Sun)

Celtic skipper Scott Brown believes the team showed that they belong in the Champions League and have learned from their experiences this season. (Scotsman)

Sporting Lisbon coach Jorge Jesus claims referee Willie Collum was conned by Real Madrid star Mateo Kovacic as he sent off Sporting defender Joao Pereira for allegedly punching Kovacic in the stomach during their Champions League match at the Estadio Jose Alvalade on Tuesday. Real Madrid won the match 2-1. (Daily Record)

Former Scotland defender Kevin McNaughton, 34, has been taken under the wing of artist Darren Baker - who has painted The Queen, Pope John Paul II, Sir Alex Ferguson and Lewis Hamilton - to develop a talent which first flourished at school. (Herald)

Aberdeen defender Graeme Shinnie will be hoping to get his hands on the Betfred Cup trophy on Sunday

Aberdeen left-back Graeme Shinnie reveals that he will be wearing his lucky pink and white boxer shorts on Sunday ahead of his team's Betfred Cup final against Celtic.(Scotsman)

Dons manager Derek McInnes feels his players have "more confidence, more swagger and more international and big-game experience" than when they won the League Cup on penalties against Inverness in 2014. (Daily Express)

Rangers chairman Dave King and his directors will try to dilute the influence of Mike Ashley and James and Sandy Easdale through a special resolution at Friday's annual general meeting. The board need 75% of all votes cast to push through a proposal that will give them the right to hold a rights issue within the next 12 months.(Daily Record)

OTHER GOSSIP

Centre Alex Dunbar says Scotland will feel at home on the artificial surface at Rugby Park when they play Georgia in their third autumn Test on Saturday, with the pitch suiting the team's fast, attacking style. (Herald)

Dunbar says the key to beating a powerful, physical Georgia side is to get the ball out wide to Scotland's pacy backs. (Sun)

Glasgow Warriors forward Ryan Wilson admits he has been forced to increase his efforts to find a place in the national team after the emergence of rookie back-rowers Hamish Watson and Magnus Bradbury. (National)