Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell has defended the club's demanding pre-season schedule this summer.
The Hoops have already played in Poland and the United States in the build-up to the new season.
Games against Everton and Manchester United at Celtic Park will be followed by a trip to Japan next week.
Then, on 9 August, Celtic face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge - after two matches in the Bank of Scotland Premier League.
But the Parkhead chief executive maintains the trip will ultimately prove beneficial to the club and the squad.
Lawwell told The Scotsman: 'We've taken on a pretty demanding pre-season which we were happy to agree to. At this stage, I don't think it's any more demanding than those faced by the majority of clubs. We've taken on some decent teams, some at peak fitness.'
He added: 'It was not just about preparation, but about taking challenges that helped promote Celtic abroad. When you look at the big clubs, you have Chelsea going to the United States, Manchester United to South Africa, Rangers to South Africa, Barcelona to the Far East, Chelsea in Korea last year.
'What we have here in Scotland are fans who have been absolutely fantastic in their financial commitment. It is second to none. But we're at a point here where we really have to look at other markets.
'So, Gordon's looking for, say, seven pre-season games, so if you can align those games in terms of preparation and the commercial agenda, it's ideal.'
Meanwhile, Shakhtar Donetsk Mircea Lucescu has warned Celtic and any other interested parties that the services of Ukraine midfielder Anatoliy Timoshchuk will not come cheap.
He said: 'Sums like £3million aren't even worth discussing.The offer doesn't come close to reflecting the value of Anatoliy's quality. Clearly, people are looking at Shakhtar and thinking they are just another of those Eastern European clubs where the transfer fees are very low. I think the sum we have been offered for Tymoschuk is an insult.'
