There are bad European nights and then there are nights that redefine the very concept of failure. Celtic's collapse against LASK in Linz falls firmly into the latter category. Arriving with a 4-0 aggregate advantage, they contrived to surrender that lead entirely, dropping out of the Champions League and into the Europa League in the process. Even by the considerable standards of Celtic's troubled continental history, this ranks as something quite extraordinary.

McGregor's fury speaks volumes

The sharpest assessment of the evening came not from a pundit or a journalist but from Celtic's own captain, Callum McGregor. Speaking after the final whistle, he branded his team-mates "passive" and "scared" — words that carried all the more weight for being delivered with calm deliberation rather than hot-headed bluster. His parting remark — "now we'll see what people are made of" — was a challenge issued publicly, and it was not a comfortable one for those in the dressing room to receive.

McGregor has been at the heart of Celtic's European campaigns for the best part of a decade. He has worn the scars of a 7-1 defeat against Borussia Dortmund, a 6-0 humiliation against Atletico Madrid, a 7-0 loss to Barcelona and a 7-1 reversal against PSG. He has been through the qualifying exits against Ferencvaros, AEK Athens and Cluj, and more recently was present for a torturous goalless run against Kairat Almaty that ended in a penalty shootout exit. Through all of it, observers struggled to recall him as openly seething as he was on Tuesday evening in Austria.

How the lead dissolved

The collapse was not sudden; it was incremental and, in many respects, that made it worse. McGregor himself opened the scoring on the night with a deflected effort, stretching the aggregate advantage to what appeared an unassailable 4-0. LASK had shown enterprise and had created chances across both legs, but a side five goals from elimination ought to retain its composure. Celtic did not.

A loose pass from Benjamin Nygren directly gifted LASK their first goal of the night, and the wobble became visible almost immediately. By the time Auston Trusty was brushed off the ball to allow a second, the jelly legs were plain to see. Three minutes into the second half, and it was 4-2 on aggregate. Ten minutes later, 4-3. The slow death had found its rhythm.

Camilo Duran, who had been so influential in the first leg, offered nothing of note. Passes went astray with increasing frequency. Celtic became directionless, unable to retain the ball, unable to impose themselves on a side they had dismantled just seven days earlier. Manager Martin O'Neill made five substitutions in a frantic twelve-minute spell, but none of them altered the momentum. The bench, it turned out, held no answers.

A structural problem, not merely a bad night

It would be convenient to dismiss this as an aberration — a once-in-a-generation aberration, admittedly — but the evidence suggests something more systemic. Celtic's record in European competition over recent seasons is littered with moments where the mental architecture has simply not matched the technical ambition. When LASK raised the tempo and the physicality, too many Celtic players shrank rather than expanded. The market, for what it is worth, will reflect that uncertainty as the club prepares for Europa League football this autumn.

O'Neill described the evening as one of the worst of his career in football, and accepted responsibility publicly. That is to his credit. But accountability cannot rest with the manager alone. Celtic have the squad, the resources by Scottish standards, and the week prior had demonstrated the quality to dismantle European opposition in spades. What they did not demonstrate, when it truly mattered, was the fortitude to protect what they had built.

McGregor's challenge — "now we'll see what people are made of" — hangs in the air. The Europa League awaits. How Celtic respond will tell us a great deal about whether this is a club capable of learning hard lessons, or one condemned to repeat them.

Frequently asked

Why did Celtic get knocked out of the Champions League?
Celtic lost their Champions League qualifying tie against Austrian side LASK after throwing away a 4-0 aggregate lead. LASK overturned the deficit across the two legs, eliminating Celtic and sending them into the Europa League instead.
What competition will Celtic play in after the Champions League exit?
Having been eliminated from the Champions League qualifying rounds, Celtic will now compete in the UEFA Europa League for the upcoming season.
What did Callum McGregor say after Celtic's LASK defeat?
Celtic captain Callum McGregor was openly critical of his team-mates, describing them as "passive" and "scared" during the collapse. He also warned the squad that their response would reveal their true character, saying "now we'll see what people are made of."