The ‘reckless’ off-field mistake that has sent Celtic into the Europa League.

Celtic have thrown away a four-goal advantage against LASK and suffered a stunning exit from the Champions League play-offs.

The dramatic collapse was discussed by Hamish Carton and Ryan McGinlay during The Celtic Way morning briefing, as they attempted to make sense of a result that was difficult to comprehend. Celtic had appeared to have complete control of the tie after building a commanding advantage, but LASK produced a remarkable turnaround to overturn the deficit and send the Scottish champions into the Europa League instead.

Hamish admitted that he was still struggling to process what had happened almost half a day after the final whistle. He said he remained shocked by the defeat and felt Celtic had ultimately been worthy of losing the tie because of the way their performance unravelled. For him, the result represented an extraordinary collapse from a position of strength.

Ryan was equally scathing about the outcome and described it as potentially the worst result in Celtic’s European history because of the circumstances surrounding the collapse. The size of Celtic’s advantage made the eventual elimination even more difficult to accept, particularly considering how well positioned the club had been before everything began to fall apart.

According to Ryan, the turning point came when Celtic conceded LASK’s second goal. That moment appeared to change the entire complexion of the contest, with the visitors losing control and confidence as the Austrian side gained momentum. What followed was described as a disastrous second half, with each setback making the situation increasingly difficult for Celtic to recover from.

The discussion also moved beyond the events on the pitch, with serious questions raised about Celtic’s preparation, physical condition, squad depth and recruitment strategy. The collapse prompted concerns about whether the team had the fitness required to cope with the demands of such an important European tie, particularly when the game became increasingly intense.

The strength of Celtic’s substitutes was another major talking point. The panel questioned whether the manager had enough quality available from the bench to change the course of the match once LASK began taking control. Having options capable of stabilising the team or restoring momentum could have been crucial, but Celtic were unable to find a response when the tie started slipping away.

Recruitment was also placed firmly under scrutiny. Hamish described the club’s failure to bring in cover at left-back as “scandalous”, highlighting what he believes is a glaring weakness within the squad. With the season entering an important stage, the lack of adequate competition and cover in that position has become an increasingly obvious concern.

Ryan went even further, arguing that Celtic had acted “recklessly” by failing to strengthen the squad with the quality required before such an important Champions League tie. In his view, the club should have recognised the areas that needed improvement and acted decisively in the transfer market rather than leaving the squad vulnerable when European qualification was on the line.

The consequences are now clear. Celtic will not compete in the Champions League group stage and must instead continue their European campaign in the Europa League. While continental football remains on the agenda, dropping out of the Champions League represents a significant setback, particularly given the enormous opportunity that was available after Celtic established their four-goal advantage.

Attention now turns back to domestic action, with Falkirk scheduled to visit Celtic Park on Saturday. The match provides Celtic with an immediate opportunity to respond on the pitch, although the disappointment of the European collapse is unlikely to disappear quickly.

The defeat has also increased pressure on the club’s leadership. Hamish insisted that Celtic need to demonstrate stronger leadership after what happened, while Ryan called for greater investment before the transfer window closes. Both believe the club cannot simply move forward without addressing the weaknesses exposed by the defeat.

For Celtic supporters, the questions will continue to grow. How could such a substantial European advantage be surrendered? Was the squad strong enough to protect the lead? Did the club make the necessary recruitment decisions before the tie? And could additional investment have prevented the collapse?

Those issues now form part of a much bigger debate surrounding Celtic’s ambitions. The Champions League dream has disappeared for another season, and the Europa League is now the destination. The club has an opportunity to react before the transfer window shuts, but supporters will expect meaningful action rather than explanations.

What began as a tie Celtic seemed destined to control has therefore ended as one of the most painful European disappointments in recent memory. The scale of the collapse has exposed concerns about recruitment, squad depth, fitness and leadership, leaving Celtic with little time to find answers before the new domestic campaign gathers further momentum.