Cameron Carter-Vickers of Celtic reacts after the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 Play off round second leg match between LASK and Celtic at on August 25, 2026 in Linz, Austria. (Photo by Christian Bruna/Getty Images)
Following on from what looked like a significant home result against the Austrian Champions in the first leg of the Champions League playoff, Celtic opened the scoring in Linz to go 4-0 ahead on aggregate before collapsing to a 5-4 aggregate defeat.
That meant Celtic dropping into the Europa League and the chequebook being well and truly put away as Martin O'Neill missed out on his preferred signing targets due to boardroom caution and money holding at Dermot Desmond's command.
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at The Old Course, St Andrews, Scotland on 03 October 2026: Celtic majority shareholder Dermot Desmond on the 18th green at the Old Course, St Andrews Photo Alex Todd IMAGO
Three games into the Europa League campaign and Celtic are pointless, sitting in second bottom spot in the table and have suffered three bruising defeats to Ferencvaros at Celtic Park (3-1), Benfica in Lisbon (4-1) and Celta Vigo at Paradise on Thursday evening.
"It's thoroughly depressing. It's one thing accepting getting your backsides booted by PSG, Barcelona or Borussia Dortmund," Chris Sutton observed in his weekly column in Daily Record . "But getting a chasing by LASK, Ferencvaros and Celta Vigo?
"It's painful. I don't like harping back but there was a time when teams didn't enjoy coming to Celtic Park. Now it's party time. Celta Vigo brought a record number of fans the other night – because they knew there was a good chance of seeing a win.
Javi Rodriguez of Real Club Celta Vigo scores his team's first goal during the UEFA Europa League 2026/27 League Phase MD3 match between Celtic FC and Celta Vigo at Celtic Park on October 22, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
"That's the worst thing. The defeat was not surprising. It was entirely predictable. Some of us have been saying it for weeks and months. O'Neill will take a lot of responsibility, and rightly so, but everyone can see he's been sold short in terms of personnel.
"The old cliche about a team only being as strong as its bench – take a look at Celtic's subs the other night. Callum Osmand went off with cramp but it says it all: so much hope is being placed on a kid coming back from long-term injuries and only making his second senior start.
13th September 2026; Ibrox, Scottish League Cup, Rangers versus Celtic; Sam Johnstone of Celtic checks his gloves after Dan Neil of Rangers shoots and scores in the 75th minute to make it 3-0 to Rangers. Photo Vagelis Georgariou
"The issues are all over the park. The goalkeeping situation has backfired as well. Some people reckon Sam Johnstone should have done better for Celta Vigo's equaliser. I think that's a bit harsh, but it doesn't matter. The rotation between him and Viljami Sinisalo hasn't helped either,"Sutton stated.
Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo Celtic FC press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz Football, Luz Stadium, Lisbon, Portugal – 14 Oct 2026Lisbon Luz Stadium Portugal Photo Luis Loureiro Shutterstock
He added: "Sinisalo was undermined by being dropped a few weeks ago and it might have hit his confidence. He gets back in but is out again soon after and Johnstone still doesn't look the most comfortable. O'Neill has another big decision this weekend but it really should be a case of picking his best keeper and getting on with it.
Kasper Schmeichel of Celtic acknowledges the fans after the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between Borussia Dortmund and Celtic FC at BVB Stadion Dortmund on October 01, 2024. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
"Mind you, this should have been nailed down months ago as Celtic had a year to prepare for Kasper Schmeichel leaving. It's just another example of the muddled-up thinking at the club."
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Celtic in the Fifties by Matt Corr, in two volumes, both published on 4th September 2026 by Celtic Star Books. Click on image to order.
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