Celtic’s Champions League qualifying campaign ended in a significant defeat against LASK, a result that manager Martin O’Neill has described as one of his most painful nights at the club. The Glasgow side held a four-goal aggregate lead after Callum McGregor scored in the 21st minute in Austria, building on a 3-0 first-leg victory. However, they ultimately lost 5-1 on the night after extra time, leading to their exit from the competition.
The defeat means Celtic will now compete in the Europa League, and it is expected to incur a financial cost to the club of at least £20m. O’Neill, who has managed over 300 games for the club, stated that he would rank this loss even before the disappointment of the Uefa Cup final in 2003.
Captain’s strong words after collapse
Callum McGregor, the team captain, did not hold back in his assessment of the team’s performance, branding his teammates as “passive” and “scared.” He expressed his fury after the European game, stating, “now we’ll see what people are made of.” McGregor‘s comments came after the team’s collapse from a 4-0 aggregate lead, a situation he described as a “total capitulation” against LASK’s physicality, desire, and belief.
McGregor opened the scoring on the night with a deflected shot, extending Celtic’s aggregate lead to 4-0. Despite LASK starting well, this goal appeared to be a significant blow to their hopes. However, the Austrian side had created chances in Glasgow during the first leg and continued to do so in the opening minutes in Linz, even when trailing by four goals.
The first signs of a wobble for Celtic appeared when Benjamin Nygren’s loose pass directly led to LASK’s equaliser on the night. This occurred 32 minutes into the match, at which point Celtic did not look entirely comfortable despite holding a 4-1 aggregate lead. Three minutes into the second half, Celtic conceded again, making the score 4-2 on aggregate, with Auston Trusty being cited as culpable for this goal.
Ten minutes after their second goal, LASK scored their third, indicating that many parts of the Celtic team were in a state of panic. Camilo Duran, who was noted as a key player in the first leg, had little impact in this match. Passes went astray, and Celtic appeared directionless as their performance deteriorated.
O’Neill attempted to change the game by making five substitutions within 12 minutes, but these changes had no impact on the flow of the game. Celtic did not manage a shot on target in the second half of normal time or during extra time. LASK’s fourth goal came in the 90th minute and was considered deserved, as they had accumulated 33 shots on Celtic’s goal by that point, eventually finishing with 40 shots.
Injuries also affected Celtic’s performance, with Cameron Carter-Vickers and Kasper Hogh reportedly hobbling. The defensive line at one point consisted of Anthony Ralston, Dane Murray, Trusty, and Liam Scales. The fifth goal for LASK was attributed to another Celtic player, Luke McCowan, making an error.
Previous European struggles
McGregor has experienced numerous challenging European nights with Celtic. He was part of the team that went goalless for 210 minutes against Kairat Almaty before failing to convert three out of five penalties in a shootout. He also played in the 7-1 defeat against Borussia Dortmund and the 6-0 loss to Atletico Madrid.
His European experiences also include a Champions League play-off exit to Midtjylland, as well as two 4-1 losses to Sparta Prague in the Europa League. Furthermore, he was involved in earlier Champions League play-off exits against Ferencvaros, AEK Athens, and Cluj. McGregor was also present for the 7-1 loss to PSG and the 7-0 loss to Barcelona.
The club’s ambition is likely to be questioned again following this defeat. Finishing a match with a back four of Ralston, Murray, Trusty, and Scales after a significant match suggests that the club may not have adequately addressed squad requirements. Celtic is noted to need a back-up left-back for Kieran Tierney and a physical presence in central midfield, a player who would not be easily intimidated.
Despite making some good transfer deals, the club’s transfer business this summer has resulted in a net profit, which may lead to further scrutiny regarding their investment in the squad. The defeat places Celtic back in a familiar position, reminiscent of previous exits to teams like Kairat, Midtjylland, Ferencvaros, Cluj, and AEK.
O’Neill acknowledged that while it was a Champions League qualifying game, it felt like a full Champions League match, and he considered LASK to be a strong side. He took responsibility for the outcome, stating that the team conceded goals that were not good from their perspective. He also mentioned that discussions about the squad’s strength would be for another day. McGregor, in his post-match comments, told Amazon Prime that the team got what they deserved and that there were no excuses for their performance.
Source: bbc.com