Celtic’s 2025 decline needs to be reversed and we all know who is to blame

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The Celtic Star

·12 November 2025

Celtic’s 2025 decline needs to be reversed and we all know who is to blame

Last season we were competing in the Champions League, this year we now hanging on by our finger nails in the Europa League…

Nicolas Kuhn scores during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between FC Bayern München and Celtic FC at Allianz Arena on February 18, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

That to me is our board’s incompetence laid bare. Heads should be rolling but instead it was the manager, the one who warned us all what was needed, who paid the ultimate price in losing his job. And other than some angry words directed at them at the upcoming AGM that will be as far as it goes for the Celtic Board who can do no wrong. Or so they think anyway.

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The fall in standards at Celtic Football club in the past 12 months has been nothing short of remarkable. From competing in the Champions League and going toe to toe with Bayern Munich to blowing a domestic treble, eliminated from this year’s competition by a bang average side, and sitting second in the Scottish Premiership seven points adrift of Hearts, for heaven’s sake.

Alphonso Davies of Bayern Munich celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between FC Bayern München and Celtic FC at Allianz Arena on February 18, 2025. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

That’s a serious slide in standards, and once again disproves the entire ‘world class’ rhetoric pitched by the Celtic PLC board. Not that we didn’t know already.

The biggest part of the problem is of course those who run our club. Last year they were roundly lauded for backing Brendan Rodgers to the tune of £27 million as he bolstered our squad with big money signings Arne Engels, Adam Idah, Auston Trusty, and Luke McCowan who was also brought on board.

Arne Engels. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Granted that spree was financed by Matt O’Riley’s move to Brighton, but they reinvested it all the same.

Results and performances on the park reflected our investment as the team went on a terrific run of form, even in the ultra competitive Champions league. However we hit something of a roadblock in January when the sale of Kyogo was sanctioned to the tune of £10 million, the Japanese striker wanted to go but hasn’t found grass greener anywhere else whether that’s in Brittany or indeed Birmingham.

Kyogo Furuhashi of Stade Rennais is pictured on the substituted bench at the Ligue 1l match between AS Saint-Etienne and Stade Rennais FC on February 08, 2025 at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Etienne, France. Photo IMAGO

Sure, Jota was brought back for a hefty £8 million, but we failed to replace the bubbly and energetic Kyogo and the goal threat he provided, which would come back to haunt us in more ways than one.

It left Daizen Maeda and Adam Idah as our only recognised strikers, and we received further blows towards the end of the season when Jota suffered a serious ACL injury, whilst Reo Hatate also endured an injury setback. Although not as serious as the Portuguese, but still serious enough to rule him out of the Scottish cup final.

Arne Engels and Nicolas Kuhn look on as Jota receives treatment. Dundee United 0 Celtic 5 at Tannadice Park on April 26, 2025 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

We threw away that final, blowing a great chance of yet another treble, and losing Kyogo, and being denied the services of Jota, and Reo were one of biggest factors as to why. We should have bolstered our ranks better in the winter window that’s for sure.

You’d think we would’ve learned our lesson in the summer, but no. Nicolas Kuhn was sold to Como, Adam Idah to Swansea, along with Kyogo and the temporary loss of Jota, that was a severe amount of assists and goals taken out of our side.

Sebastian Tounekti. Celtic v theRangers. Premier Sports Cup, semi final at Hampden. 2 November 2025. Photo AJ (The Celtic Star)

Not one of them was replaced with a similar or better option. Seb Tounekti looks promising and it’s early days in the case of Michel- Ange Balikwisha, whilst Kelchi Iheanacho brings us some experience, but not to replace or upgrade the most vital cog in our side, has severely came back to haunt us.

Second in the league, and fighting for the chance of a Europa league play off spot. Standards have clearly fallen in just 12 months, and heads should undoubtedly roll.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers beside the trophy after the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and St Mirren at Celtic Park on May 17, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

But other than Brendan’s, we know they won’t.

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