Celtic Crash Out Of Champions League After Stunning Collapse Against LASK
Celtic threw away a four-goal aggregate lead as LASK completed a stunning extra-time comeback in Austria, condemning the Scottish champions to the Europa League and leaving manager Martin O'Neill to shoulder the blame.
O'Neill takes the blame
Manager Martin O'Neill was frank when put in the spotlight after full-time, accepting responsibility for the collapse.
"I'm responsible for this one," he said. "Without a doubt. Naturally it took me a long time to get over the UEFA Cup final in 2003, but this was majorly disappointing.
"In the context of things, one was a final which it would have been terrific to win, this was a qualifying game which we should have been able to get through.
"We know that we are a million miles from the finished article. That's absolutely true. I think we thought that anyway."
Celtic's qualifying hoodoo continues
LASK's name now joins those of AEK Athens, Cluj, Ferencvaros, Midtjylland and Kairat Almaty among the sides to have knocked Celtic out of Champions League qualifying in recent years.
Celtic will learn their Europa League opponents when the league-phase draw is made at 12pm UK time on Friday, 28 August, before returning to domestic action at home to Falkirk on Saturday.
Elsewhere, Wednesday's Champions League play-off second legs continue with Lyon hosting Fenerbahce, Viking welcoming Dinamo Zagreb, and AEK Athens facing Levski.
Photo: X-@CelticFC