Celtic manager Martin O’Neill took responsibility after his side surrendered a four-goal aggregate advantage to lose to Austrian club LASK and exit champions League qualifying, a defeat that O’Neill said leaves the team “a million miles” from where it needs to be.
- Celtic lost to LASK 5-4 on aggregate after surrendering a four-goal lead.
- Martin O'Neill accepted responsibility and said the team had "a million miles" to go.
- The defeat denies Celtic the champions League group-stage benefits and may affect transfer plans and recruitment.
What happened
After leading by four goals on aggregate, Celtic were beaten by LASK in Austria and lost the tie 5-4 following extra time. The result means Celtic will not reach the champions League through this qualifying route for the second consecutive season.
O'Neill's response and immediate context
Speaking at full-time, O’Neill acknowledged the scale of the disappointment and said it was his responsibility to steady the squad and pick the players up after the defeat. He described the club’s standing as far from complete and accepted that missing out on qualification has multiple consequences.
The manager highlighted the importance of Champions League qualification “financially, for prestige,” and noted that the failure to progress will affect the club’s recruitment prospects during the remainder of the transfer window, because the competition had been a selling point to potential signings.
Voices from inside and around the club
Celtic captain Callum McGregor told Amazon Prime that the players “got what we deserved,” describing the side as passive and admitting there were no excuses for the margin of defeat. McGregor said the squad had to accept the consequences and show what they were made of in response.
Former club figures and pundits also reacted. Scott Brown, speaking on BBC Radio Scotland, said LASK deserved to progress and highlighted physical areas where Celtic were outperformed. Neil Lennon assessed the performance as one where Celtic appeared exhausted and fragile in duels, while Stiliyan Petrov said everyone was to blame and stressed collective responsibility.
Why this matters
- Sporting impact: Celtic’s exit denies the club the competitive platform, group-stage exposure and match revenue that come with Champions League participation.
- Financial consequences: O’Neill and the club referred to the financial significance of qualifying. Missing the group stage reduces the immediate revenue that often allows clubs to invest in the squad during the transfer window.
- Recruitment and momentum: O’Neill specifically linked qualification to player recruitment, indicating that missing out may change transfer dynamics before the window closes.
How the tie unfolded (timeline)
- First leg: Celtic built an aggregate advantage that left them four goals clear heading into the second match.
- Second leg in Austria: LASK staged a second-half comeback, forcing extra time and overturning the deficit to win 5-4 on aggregate.
- Aftermath: Celtic were eliminated from Champions League qualifying; the management and playing group faced immediate scrutiny and public reaction.
What comes next
O’Neill has stated it is his responsibility to steady the club and to ensure players bounce back. Immediate priorities for Celtic will include recovering squad morale, adjusting transfer plans without the Champions League windfall, and preparing for domestic fixtures and any remaining European opportunities (as applicable within UEFA rules). The defeat is likely to prompt questions over squad readiness and fitness, which voices around the club have already raised.
Where the evidence comes from
The details in this report derive from post-match accounts and reaction published by BBC Sport and related coverage of the tie and its fallout.
Key takeaway: Celtic’s failure to protect a four-goal aggregate lead, and Martin O’Neill’s immediate acceptance of responsibility, leave the club dealing with sporting, financial and recruitment consequences as it seeks to regroup.