footballonsight

Tag: Martin O’Neill

  • Celtic’s 5-1 collapse: How LASK’s 5 goals in 16 minutes ended Hoops’ UCL dream

    Celtic’s Champions League ambitions evaporated in Linz on Tuesday night as LASK scored three times within 16 minutes of the restart to erase a four-goal aggregate lead and send Martin O’Neill’s side into the Europa League.

    From 4-0 to 5-1: The collapse in real time

    Callum McGregor’s deflected strike in the 21st minute put Celtic 4-0 up on aggregate, a scoreline that suggested a comfortable passage into the group stage. But within 16 minutes of the restart, LASK had scored three times to level the tie on the night and twice more to complete the unthinkable.

    The first sign of distress came in the 48th minute when Moses Usor exploited a loose pass from Benjamin Nygren to pull a goal back on the night. Robert Ljubicic then drilled home from 20 yards three minutes later, and Samuel Adeniran curled a first-time effort into the top corner in the 58th minute. Florian Flecker’s stoppage-time header forced extra time, but Adeniran’s second goal in the 98th minute sealed Celtic’s fate.

    The Hoops’ defensive frailties were exposed repeatedly, particularly against quick transitions. LASK’s counterattacks bypassed Celtic’s midfield, a theme that had already surfaced in the first leg before O’Neill handed debuts to academy products in a reshuffled lineup.

    Tactical missteps and personnel gaps

    Celtic’s midfield, once their strength, struggled to regain possession once LASK turned defence into attack. The absence of a recognised striker—amplified by the sale of Arne Engels—left O’Neill’s side short of a focal point, and the hosts’ pressing grew more effective as the tie wore on.

    The Irishman’s side had looked assured in Glasgow, but their attacking rhythm vanished in Austria. Mika Baur forced a save from Kasper Høgh early on, and Celtic’s finishing, which had separated them in the first leg, deserted them entirely in the second. LASK, meanwhile, created chances consistently, their transitions cutting through Celtic’s shape with alarming ease.

    O’Neill’s decision to field a makeshift lineup after being caught off guard by a key player’s absence compounded the issues. The defensive lapses, particularly against Usor and Ljubicic, highlighted a lack of cohesion that had been papered over in previous rounds.

    Fallout for both clubs

    For Celtic, the financial and reputational cost is severe. Missing out on the Champions League group stage for the second consecutive year—after a £20m-plus outlay—raises serious questions about recruitment and squad depth. The Europa League, while a consolation, offers little solace for a club targeting a return to Europe’s elite.

    LASK, by contrast, will celebrate a historic night. Their counterattacking football dismantled a Celtic side that had looked untouchable in qualifying. The win secures their place in the group stage and validates their approach under manager Dominik Thalhammer, who has built a side capable of punching above its weight.

    The Hoops’ European struggles now stretch back years, and the collapse in Linz will linger. O’Neill’s future may also come under scrutiny, though he remains defiant. After a key player’s unplanned absence disrupted preparations, the damage done on the pitch speaks louder than any excuses.

    Celtic’s Champions League dream is over, and LASK’s rise is the story of the night. The Hoops must now regroup for a Europa League campaign that offers little margin for further errors.

  • Celtic’s Hogh deal: O’Neill’s record signing gamble explained

    Martin O’Neill’s Celtic are poised to complete a club-record signing that could redefine their summer narrative. Kasper Hogh, the 25-year-old Denmark international striker from Bodo/Glimt, is scheduled to undergo a medical with the Scottish champions within 24 hours, according to O’Neill himself. The move follows months of speculation and would see Celtic part with an £11 million outlay—an unprecedented fee for a player who has yet to prove himself in the Scottish Premiership.

    Why this deal matters now

    O’Neill’s comments came just hours after Celtic’s 2-2 pre-season draw with AC Milan at Celtic Park, a game that underscored the need for attacking reinforcement. The manager admitted the deal was “progressing” but stopped short of declaring it done, citing the usual caveats that accompany transfer sagas. “Yes, I’m hoping that that will happen,” he said. “I think there’s a good chance of it. But, until someone’s actually signed and sealed, there might be things still up in the air.”

    The timing is no coincidence. Hours earlier, Celtic had sold fan favourite Daizen Maeda to Ipswich Town, a move that left a void in attack and raised questions about the club’s transfer strategy. O’Neill’s pursuit of Hogh signals an attempt to fill that void with a player whose profile—Danish youth international, 12 goals in 28 Eliteserien appearances last season—fits the bill. Yet the fee, described as a club record, carries risk. Hogh has never played in Scotland, and his record against top-tier European opposition is limited.

    The squad’s shifting shape

    Celtic’s summer has been defined by flux. Maeda’s departure to Ipswich for an undisclosed fee leaves a clear need for a direct, mobile forward, and Hogh’s arrival would address that. The club’s only other summer signing, Camilo Duran, has impressed in warm-up games—three goals in three—but O’Neill has made it clear more deals are likely. “We’ve got a few other things in the pipeline that might come to fruition,” he said, hinting at further incomings. The pursuit of Paderborn midfielder Mika Baur remains unresolved, adding another layer to a transfer window that has already seen Celtic’s hierarchy come under scrutiny.

    O’Neill’s comments about the board meeting minutes revealing a transfer crisis at Celtic Park underscore the pressure on the manager to deliver. The minutes, which surfaced earlier this month, painted a picture of a club struggling to balance ambition with pragmatism. Hogh’s potential arrival is a gamble, but one O’Neill clearly believes is worth taking.

    Can Hogh deliver where others haven’t?

    Celtic’s recent history is littered with high-profile strikers who failed to replicate their form north of the border. The club’s transfer policy has often prioritised potential over proven impact, and Hogh fits that mould. His record at Bodo/Glimt—where he scored 12 goals in 28 league games last season—is solid but not spectacular. The question is whether his style, which includes a physical presence and a willingness to press, will translate to the Premiership’s intensity.

    O’Neill’s confidence in Duran suggests he is not wedded to a single profile. Yet the Hogh deal, if completed, would represent a clear statement of intent. The manager’s cautious optimism—”I think there’s a good chance of it”—reflects the uncertainty that comes with such a move. Celtic need goals, and they need them quickly. Whether Hogh is the answer remains to be seen, but the club’s willingness to bet £11 million on him speaks volumes about their desperation.

    One thing is certain: if Hogh does arrive, he will walk into a dressing room under intense scrutiny. The SFA’s reckoning over Ibrox chaos has already cast a shadow over the season, and Celtic cannot afford another high-profile flop. O’Neill’s gamble is clear: he is betting on Hogh’s potential to outweigh the risks. For the fans, the hope is that this deal will be the start of something bigger—not just another expensive experiment.