Celtic's hopes of Champions League football have been dashed for the sixth time in eight years, following a dramatic collapse against LASK. Despite leading 3-0 from the first leg in Glasgow and taking an early lead in Austria, Celtic ultimately lost the tie 4-4 on aggregate, with LASK scoring the winner in the 90th minute.
The defeat carries significant financial implications, with football finance expert Kieran Maguire estimating the cost of missing out on the Champions League to be over £20 million. Maguire highlighted that Champions League prize money is substantially higher than that offered in the Europa League or Conference League.
The financial impact was reflected in Celtic's share price, which was reportedly down by 4-5% today. Manager Martin O'Neill has indicated that transfer targets may need to be reassessed in light of the defeat, and the club could also miss out on sponsor bonuses and higher ticket and hospitality package revenues.
Captain Callum McGregor described the team as looking "scared" and "passive" during LASK's second-half bombardment. Former Celtic captain Scott Brown suggested that the squad's depth is not at the level required for European competition, pointing to the absence of Arne Engels as a significant factor.