Celtic FC came home with their tails between their legs from a crushing UEFA Champions League loss. Inexplicably, they have lost to Kairat Almaty, a club that is 311th in world ranking. Celtic only managed one shot on target between the two legs. Ultimately, their performance was just dismal, with players lacking fight, desire, and creativity on the pitch. Following their blistering start to the season with a six-point lead in the Scottish Premiership table, hubris soon settled in. In truth, the team continued to have difficulties converting chances into goals, meeting a harsh fate.
Celtic went into the second leg of the tie at home trailing. They will need a huge turnaround in the return leg to go through. Sadly, for everything the press did put on frame, they just couldn’t find the net, leaving fans and players both exasperated. Celtic will be £20 million out-of-pocket as a result of the exit. This crucial loss will transform the club’s financial picture heading into next season.
Lackluster Performance
To be sure, from start to finish over both legs, Celtic came off as unimpressive. The team created very few scoring opportunities, with one notable moment coming from James Forrest, whose header was expertly tipped over by the Kairat goalkeeper. Lack of players and poor strategies were just a few of the factors that led to their failure.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers had been vocal about his disappointment of the clubs’ failure to recruit players throughout the summer. The casualties to their more talented, key contributors — Brazilian winger Edmilson was a huge blow. Jota’s extended time on the sidelines deprived the squad of the depth it required. Shin Yamada, a seasoned striker, remained on the bench during the decisive match, while Yang Hyun-jun struggled significantly, giving away possession and losing control of the ball on several occasions.
“It’s tough to explain, there will be a lot of questions and fallout with a narrative of a lack of investment.” – Mark Wilson
The team’s inability to strengthen its wing positions after Jota’s injury and Nicolas Kuhn’s departure to Como proved detrimental. Daizen Maeda missed a huge chance in front of goal. He missed a crucial penalty kick which only compounded Celtic’s problems with finishing inside the box.
Fan Frustration
Vocal Celtic supporters showed their displeasure loud and clear—from the stands during the game to the streets after both matches. Following the first leg, chants of “Sack the Board” echoed through the stands as fans voiced their concerns over the lack of summer signings and investment in the squad. The mood at and outside of Celtic Park turned quickly toxic as dreams shattered on the rocks of reality.
The disappointment etched into the players’ faces was almost unbearable at full-time. It was no surprise, then, that both Arne Engels and Daizen Maeda showed their frustration at not having converted over the two legs. Celtic’s players were willing to battle and put their collective bodies on the line. Sadly, they departed the field without winning any prizes, which left the entire team and their development advocates equally discouraged.
Looking Ahead
Thanks to Celtic’s surprise early exit from the Champions League, the Scottish side will be playing in the Europa League instead. This shift does more than just change their competitive landscape. It impacts their overall financial health in a profound way. The £20 million hole in expected income presents an array of difficulties for squad building and future spending.
Manager Brendan Rodgers, above, had looked set to improve on last season’s run, which saw Celtic reach the knockout phase play-offs. With increasing grumblings over player selection and tactical approach at a critical period during the season, Baldisimo’s vision for the team likely needs some serious recalibrating.
As Celtic prepares for its Europa League campaign, questions loom over its current squad’s capabilities and management decisions moving forward. The club needs to move quickly on these matters in order to get back on track and rebuild faith with its players and fans.
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