It felt appropriate that the eve of another Scottish Premiership season was dominated by Celtic’s reaction to a Champions League qualifying draw. It is on that grander stage that Brendan Rodgers and his players are widely judged, amid the perception of the domestic scene being less competitive than is healthy for anyone.

The reality is Celtic’s achievements in Scotland last season were exceptional. Completion of trebles have been rare enough throughout history without the significant add-on of Celtic being unbeaten whilst doing it. Rodgers raised the bar to the point where it is legitimate to ask what can be done next; meaningful impact on that European stage is a key Celtic target.

But first, the unfurling of a league flag. Celtic kick-off the Scottish top flight with the visit of a Heart of Midlothian team plunged into turmoil by a horrendous League Cup performance and the subsequent sacking of their head coach. Here starts the Rodgers quest for improvement which, domestically at least, is tricky to envisage.

This is not, of course, any fault of Rodgers. The former Liverpool manager demonstrated during the 2016-17 season that the failure of other Scottish teams to lay a glove on Celtic did not impact on motivation at all. Nonetheless, it is surely unarguable that Celtic and Scotland would benefit from increased challenges from more capable teams.

“I don’t know,” shrugged Rodgers on Friday when asked whether he expects anything relating to a title chase in this campaign. “I don’t need to worry about that. My worry is to make us the best I can.”

Rodgers was similarly bullish on whether or not Celtic actually need to be pushed to a stronger extent. He clearly realises the desire to push a tiresome Old Firm narrative which has arguably harmed the Scottish game more than it has helped it.

“No. Others need it but we don’t,” said the Northern Irishman. “Our measure is that we want to be the best we can be. We know what it takes to compete in European football. That’s our measure.

“Some people will say we need a strong Rangers, strong Aberdeen, strong Hibs – but that’s no good if you’re not strong.

“Our standard we set ourselves, no one else helps us set it. That was my approach last year when I came in and it was exactly the same throughout the season.

“For people on the outside looking in, there’s maybe not so much to write about when the gap is 20 points or 39 points. But for us we set our standard.

“I think it is great of course for the game if you have that – a team one point ahead or whatever – but it is not going to define how I work every day. I always try to work at a world-class level. That is then the demand for the player. I don’t need, with all due respect, to know what Rangers are doing or Aberdeen, Hibs, Hearts to motivate me. I’m not going to have a lazy day because we are winning by 20 points.”

It remains difficult to assert whether or not Rangers will be stronger in this, their second season back in the Premiership. Humiliation at the hands of Luxembourg opposition in Europe placed the manager, Pedro Caixinha, under an element of pressure which will intensify again if Rangers make a slow league start. Celtic appear the far more stable – and talented – of the major Glasgow clubs.

Aberdeen will inevitably suffer from the loss of Jonny Hayes – to Celtic – and must recover, too, from European disappointment after failing to hold on to a lead taken to Cyprus on Thursday. It is a sign of the gulf even between the clubs who finished first and second last season that the man who may well prove to be Aberdeen’s best player, Ryan Christie, will not be available for matches against Celtic because they are his parent club. Neil Lennon’s recruitment – and experience – means Hibernian are likely to enjoy a strong season after winning last season’s Championship.

Hearts, meanwhile, arrive in Glasgow still reeling from what became the inevitable departure of Ian Cathro. Rodgers used pre-match media duties to defend the 31-year-old.

“I had never come across him before but he clearly has the talent,” Rodgers said. “You don’t go abroad and work at the clubs he has done and gained those experiences if you are not. He has gone to Newcastle, slotted in there and he has had good experience.

“The board, more importantly at Hearts, thought he was good enough and thought it was the right time to come in. But throughout his time there it always seemed as though he was up against it. He’ll be better for the experience. I told him that after the clouds, always comes the sun and not to worry because this sharpens your teeth.

“I am a wee bit disappointed for Scottish football because he is clearly someone who was trying to work a certain way and to develop players and make them better. I am not sure you have so many of them up here, that’s the brutal honestly of it. I am not so sure there is that. What he’ll have learned is that, when the spotlight is shining upon you, it’s completely different from being a coach or an assistant manager. I think he’ll go away, he’ll be disappointed of course but, being so young, he will get an opportunity and his next club will get the benefit of his experience at Hearts.”