Down and out of Champions League – Former Celts have their say | OneFootball

Reaction from former Celtic players and managers after last night’s dreadful performance against Kairat which saw Celtic suffer a humiliating exit from the Champions League…

Celtic and Kairat Almaty line ups Kairat Almaty v Celtic, UEFA Champions League, Play-Off Round, Second Leg, Football, Almaty Central Stadium, Almaty, Kazakhstan – 26 August 2025. Photo Anikita Bassov Shutterstock

With a prize of at least £40m at stake the Celtic Board failed to replace players they sold in January and July (Kyogo and Kuhn) and failed to replace the winger who was injured in April (Jota). That’s on them.

With around 220 minutes to score against Kairat Celtic failed miserably with the veteran James Forrest starting both games, Yang playing from the start last night and both Adam Idah and Daizen Maeda in dreadful form.

Celtic line up Kairat Almaty v Celtic, UEFA Champions League, Play-Off Round, Second Leg, Football, Almaty Central Stadium, Almaty, Kazakhstan – 26 Aug 2025Almaty Almaty Central Stadium Kazakhstan Photo Nikita Bassov/Shutterstock

The midfield three failed miserably last week yet incredibly it was the same again last night – that’s on Brendan Rodgers as he had three of his own summer 2024 signing on the bench – Arne Engels, Paulo Bernardo and Luke McCowan. Read Sandman’s Definitive Ratings for much on this.

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)

Here’s Michael Nicholson speaking, explaining Celtic’s world class sustainable, self financing model on the day Brendan Rodgers was re-appointed as Celtic manager in late June 2023. How has that all worked out Michael?

There’s plenty of reaction from pundits and former players or managers at other clubs doing the rounds but let’s stick to what Celtic men are saying…

“The gamble didn’t pay off”…Chris Sutton

“Celtic, it’s their own fault”…Martin O’Neill

“The performances were not good enough”…Stan Petrov

“It’s backfired dramatically”…Mark Wilson

“Fail to prepare, prepare to fail”…Aiden McGeady

“We should have had two forward players in before this tie” John Collins

Celtic players appear dejected after losing in the penalty shootout Kairat Almaty v Celtic, UEFA Champions League, Play-Off Round, Second Leg, Football, Almaty Central Stadium, Almaty, Kazakhstan – 26 Aug 2025Almaty Almaty Central Stadium Kazakhstan Photo Nikita Bassov/Shutterstock

Here’s what Chris Sutton, Martin O’Neill, Aiden McGeady, Mark Wilson, Stiylian Petrov and John Collins had to say about Celtic’s Champions League exit last night…

“The gamble didn’t pay off… turning phone off…” Chris Sutton.

Kieran Tierney of Celtic Kairat Almaty v Celtic, UEFA Champions League, Play-Off Round, Second Leg, Football, Almaty Central Stadium, Almaty, Kazakhstan – 26 Aug 2025Almaty Almaty Central Stadium Kazakhstan Photo Nikita Bassov/Shutterstock

“Celtic, it’s their own fault. They are out of a competition they should be in. They haven’t done enough over the two games. We had the Maeda moment, he should score the goal. But there was never a sustained six or seven minutes where they put the opposition under real pressure. It just never happened. When I stepped into Celtic, not that I expected to win the European Cup, but that’s what you aspire to. That’s what Celtic football club is built on.” Martin O’Neill.

Callum McGregor of Celtic applauds travelling fans after the full time whistle Kairat Almaty v Celtic, UEFA Champions League, Play-Off Round, Second Leg, Football, Almaty Central Stadium, Almaty, Kazakhstan – 26 Aug 2025Almaty Almaty Central Stadium Kazakhstan Photo Nikita Bassov/Shutterstock

“The performances were not good enough. Ultimately it goes back down to forward planning. Fail to prepare, prepare to fail. It’s been a very difficult watch over the two legs. The quality is not there. If Celtic had got through tonight they would have been very lucky to get through. This team shouldn’t be relying on that with the quality that they’ve got. You don’t want to be called honest as a player, especially not if you play for Celtic. That was the biggest thing I took away from what Brendan Rodgers said. Honesty and endeavour, you get that with anybody who plays football. You need more than that at Champions League level.” Aiden McGeady.

Reo Hatate of Celtic applauds Kairat Almaty v Celtic, UEFA Champions League, Play-Off Round, Second Leg, Football, Almaty Central Stadium, Almaty, Kazakhstan – 26 Aug 2025Almaty Almaty Central Stadium Kazakhstan Photo Nikita Bassov/Shutterstock

“There will be accusations that the Celtic board gambled on the players that they have got to get them through to the Champions League, and it’s backfired dramatically. They drop into the Europa League, and they have been very, very poor and created very little over 210 minutes.” Mark Wilson.

Yang Hyun-Jun of Celtic Kairat Almaty v Celtic, UEFA Champions League, Play-Off Round, Second Leg, Almaty Central Stadium, Almaty, Kazakhstan – 26 August 2025Almaty Almaty Central Stadium Kazakhstan Photo Nikita Bassov/Shutterstock

“The penalties are a flip of a coin – anything can happen. But overall, I think Kairat deserved to go through. There will be a lot more pressure now about transfers. I think Celtic and the board should learn from that – nothing is given. You have to go, you have to win and perform, and make sure you go through to the next stage. Sometimes, you need more than previous success.” Stiylian Petrov.

Benjamin Nygren of Celtic Kairat Almaty v Celtic, UEFA Champions League, Play-Off Round, Second Leg, Football, Almaty Central Stadium, Almaty, Kazakhstan – 26 Aug 2025Almaty Almaty Central Stadium Kazakhstan Photo Nikita Bassov/Shutterstock

“I think every Celtic supporter, and every board member, will be watching this thinking ‘we should have had two forward players in before this tie’. There was a lack of creativity in the final third, set-plays were poor, not enough movement so pressure is on. Everybody in the whole country is shocked Celtic haven’t recruited at the top of the pitch. Every single fan says the same thing – we need another winger with pace, we need another striker since they sold Kyogo, and I think the recruitment department and the board should have delivered to the manager. He should have had the talent in before this game. I’m sure they tried, but not hard enough. They should have had at least two bodies in before this.” John Collins.

Adam Idah of Celtic appears dejected after missing a penalty during the shootout 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

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