Another season, another failure - where did it all go wrong for Celtic?
Celtic have now faltered in Champions League qualifying on six occasions in eight years. What are the ramifications this time?
In a disappointing Champions League campaign, Celtic suffered a devastating 4-4 aggregate tie loss to LASK in Austria. Leading 3-0 from the first leg in Glasgow, the Scottish champions seemed poised for success. However, a second-half onslaught from LASK ultimately took its toll, with Martin O'Neill's side failing to maintain their lead.
Captain Callum McGregor noted that Celtic appeared "scared" and "passive" during LASK's waves of attacks in Linz, while Benjamin Nygren, Auston Trusty, and Luke McCowan all made errors that directly led to concessions. Former Celtic captain Scott Brown believes manager O'Neill was merely protecting his players after such a humiliating performance.
O'Neill himself acknowledged responsibility for the collapse, but Brown argued that the club's depth and quality, particularly in midfield, fell short of competing in Europe's premier club competition. The financial consequences of this defeat could reach over £20 million, with Celtic's revenue of £143m ranking them among the top 60 clubs in Europe for the 2024/25 season.
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