Sadiku has not yet completed a year in office, but the Swede has already achieved several firsts.
Celtic’s first SWPL title win in May parachuted them onto the qualifying path of champions of Europe’s elite competition, which they successfully negotiated for the first time to reach the group stage.
When the draw was made and Women’s Super League winners Chelsea, Spanish giants Real Madrid and Dutch champions Twente were grouped with the Glasgow club, Celtic faced the daunting task of competing.
Although the Scottish team had some problems on their travels, they only once conceded more than three goals – the 4-0 defeat in Madrid, of which three came in the last 20 minutes.
For much of that match at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano and throughout the campaign, they have probed, pressured and posed a threat to some of the continent’s best.
However, small margins (mainly fatigue and lapses in concentration) have proven costly, as was also the case against Twente.
In the hosts’ first, Celtic failed to time and clear a cut-back, while the two unfortunate own goals that followed were due to lapses of attention.
But Sadiku insists that competing and learning what it takes to make an impact at this level will stand them in good stead for future appearances.
“We now have in the back of our minds the knowledge of what it takes to compete in the Champions League,” he said.
“That has to be the hunger and motivation every time we train and play.
“We want to continue improving so that the next time we play in the Champions League we can compete better.”
To do so, Celtic must defend their SWPL title, which they will now fully focus on again.
The defending champions head into their final game of the year against Spartans on Sunday (13:00 GMT) in fifth place and nine points behind leaders Glasgow City, but have two games in hand.
Following the loss to Real Madrid last week, Sadiku said he “can’t wait” to fully concentrate on his domestic duties again and hopes this season’s European experience will provide his team with even more fuel to defend their title. .
“In the new year, when we return to normal training weeks, it is about working hard and training with high intensity because we need to be prepared to dominate the league,” he added.
“We are strong and we have to believe in that too because I want to have more success with this team. I want to win everything we can win and that has to be the motivation.”
