Celtic Count the Cost of Champions League Flop
- On Tuesday, Scottish champions Celtic capitulated in Austria, losing 5-1 to LASK after extra time and dropping into the Europa League following a 5-4 aggregate defeat in the Champions League play-off round.
- Captain Callum McGregor extended Celtic's aggregate lead to 4-0 with a 21st-minute goal, but LASK roared back with strikes from Moses Usor, Robert Ljubicic, and Samuel Adeniran before Florian Flecker's 90th-minute header forced extra time.
- Manager Martin O'Neill accepted responsibility for the result, which delivered a £20million-plus blow to the club, as he and assistant Shaun Maloney were unable to stem LASK's momentum in Linz.
- Following the match, McGregor said the team felt "scared" during the loss, while supporters questioned the decision to sell attacker Arne Engels and interim chairman Brian Wilson faced heat over recruitment decisions.
- Disharmony previously affected Celtic last year, and this result threatens similar internal friction as the team now shifts focus to the Europa League, mirroring a second consecutive failure against opponents like Kairat Almaty at this qualifying stage.
26 Articles
26 Articles
Radio France Internationale
France24Celtic count the cost of Champions League flop
Having gone out to unheralded Kazakh side Kairat Almaty in last year's play-offs, Celtic suffered an even greater humiliation on Tuesday, squandering a four-goal aggregate lead against Austrian champions LASK to lose 5-1 on the night and 5-4 overall. Their failure to reach the league phase will cost them an estimated £40 million ($55 million), even with the consolation of competing in the second-tier Europa League. O'Neill, who in his second fu…
The LASK moved in with a 5:1 victory against Celtic Glasgow in the league phase of the Champions League. At the press conference, coach Didi Kühbauer presented himself in the highest form.
Martin O'Neill takes responsibility for Celtic's huge Champions League meltdown
Martin O’Neill points finger of blame following Celtic’s astonishing Champions League exit
Martin O'Neill accepted full responsibility after Celtic surrendered a four-goal aggregate advantage in a catastrophic Champions League collapse against LASK.The Bhoys appeared certain to qualify, having led 3-0 from the first leg, before disintegrating during the second half at the Raiffeisen Arena.Celtic suffered a 5-4 aggregate defeat after extra time, and 5-1 on the night, bringing another campaign to a humiliating end at the qualifying stag…
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