Brendan Rodgers believes Celtic's 3-3 draw with Manchester City shows why plans to make the Champions League "an NFL-style closed shop" must be avoided.

The Scottish champions took the lead three times before being pegged back by Pep Guardiola's team at Celtic Park as they picked up their first point in Group C.

Under widespread changes to Europe's top club contest, the top four clubs from the continent's top four leagues will receive guaranteed entry to the group stages.

The governing body will maintain the Champions path to the group stage for Scottish clubs despite fears that it may be more difficult for teams to make it through the qualifiers.

Celtic boss Rodgers believes his team's display shows the value of teams from smaller leagues competing at the highest level.

"Probably after the Barcelona game there were critics, which is natural when you lose so heavily.

"But when you put into perspective there has to be an opportunity for clubs like Celtic, one of the great clubs in world football, to play in this competition. The competition is better for a club like Celtic in it.

"Of course you have to earn the right to be in it, you have to qualify but it shouldn't be made near on impossible because you don't have television money and you don't have the propaganda that goes with that.

"This is one of the great clubs of world football but we don't have the resources or anywhere near the resources.

"I know League One clubs in England that probably have greater resources than Celtic but that shouldn't stop us having an opportunity up here."

Rodgers also expressed his belief that Celtic's potential will halt any potential move to the English league set up in the future.

Last week it was announced the Glasgow pair would not form any part of a potential revamp of league football south of the border as part of the "Whole Game Solution".

A proposed fifth division will not have teams from outside of England and former Liverpool boss Rodgers believes his team would be"a major threat to nearly every English club playing in England".

He added: "Make no bones about it. If Celtic are in England, Celtic are one of the top four/six clubs there.

"So can you imagine then the resources playing at that level, what that would produce for Celtic. It could go as far as it wants then.

"For Celtic to be in the English pyramid system is very tough because of the size of the club.

"We have the history, huge club, fan base, team, stadium, it would be a frightening prospect and an exciting prospect if it ever happened but for others looking through it would be very difficult to accept.

"If you are another club playing in that (Premier) league or the Championship or League One, would you like that type of threat coming in to possibly stop you coming into the league?

"I don't think you would want it and that is the reality. "So I think it is always going to be difficult to get that across."