Celtic’s calamity in Almaty – ‘Everyone is accountable,’ Calmac | OneFootball

Callum McGregor insists ‘everyone is accountable’ for Celtic’s Champions League exit…

Daizen Maeda of Celtic reacts to missing an opportunity Kairat Almaty v Celtic, UEFA Champions League, Play-Off Round, Second Leg, Football, Almaty Central Stadium, Almaty, Kazakhstan – 26 August 2025. Photo Nikita Bassov/Shutterstock

Supporters have blamed the players, the manager, and the boardroom but the Hoops skipper believes that everyone played their part in the calamity that unfolded in Almaty on Tuesday evening.

To go from a position of strength in February by being one minute away from taking Bayern Munich to extra time in the Allianz Arena in the knockout playoffs of Europe’s elite club competition to Kairat qualification catastrophe in six months has demoralised fans.

Peter Lawwell, Michael Nicholson and Chris McKay applaud during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Livingston at Celtic Park on August 23, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Full responsibility is arguably on the club hierarchy for not strengthening the squad ahead of the £40 million clash. With £65.4m lingering from the last accounts, investment on the pitch is nowhere to be seen.

McGregor acknowledged that fresh signings are necessary but insisted that no one can escape blame for the Almaty fiasco. Poor transfer dealings were a major factor, leaving manager Brendan Rodgers short especially in the forward areas.

Yet Celtic should have had the acumen to overcome a side who have only ever been in a European group phase once in their entire history.

Jorginho of Kairat Almaty strikes an indirect free kick which Daizen Maeda of Celtic blocks Kairat Almaty v Celtic, UEFA Champions League, Play-Off Round, Second Leg, Football, Almaty Central Stadium, Almaty, Kazakhstan – 26 Aug just 2025 Almaty Almaty Central Stadium Kazakhstan Photo Nikita Bassov/Shutterstock

Speaking via Daily Record, McGregor said: “You have to trust the people in the right position to do their jobs and get what we need. Everyone at the club is accountable.”

“The players are accountable; the manager is accountable along with the coaching staff and the guys upstairs. Everyone is working for the game goal, we all want Celtic to be successful and playing in the best competitions.”

McGregor added: “So we have to trust the guys to replace the quality that we’ve lost in the squad. That might take time but we obviously haven’t much of it now. We’ve gone right through the window and everybody knows what we need in terms of help for the team.”

“Hopefully we can still get it and that can help the team go on and have another successful season.”

Conor Spence

Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Foreword by Danny McGrain. Published on Celtic Star Books on 5 September 2025. Click on image to pre-order.

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