O’Neill says he takes responsibility for Celtic’s disastrous Champions League exit | OneFootball

Martin O’Neill admitted Celtic’s Champions League exit to LASK was his responsibility after they surrendered a three-goal aggregate lead.

Celtic looked set to cruise into the next round after building a 3-0 advantage in the first leg, but LASK produced a remarkable comeback before scoring the decisive fifth goal in extra time in a 5-1 defeat for the Scottish side.

O’Neill accepted responsibility for Celtic’s collapse and criticised the manner in which his side conceded.

“We should have been out of sight by half-time,” O’Neill said.

“We scored a goal which was great, we missed two great opportunities, and then we give them a lifeline just before half-time and then one just after it.

“And they come roaring back and obviously we conceded from our viewpoint, not very good goals at all. That’s my team and that’s my responsibility.”

Celtic were still in control at the interval despite conceding shortly before half-time, but another LASK goal after the restart shifted the momentum in the hosts’ favour.

“Just after half-time they score, then obviously momentum goes in their direction and it’s hard to stem the point when they are chasing the game,” he said.

“We tried to hold out for ten minutes and then we seemed to have weathered the storm as if we were going to see it through, then they score with a couple of minutes to go and that takes it into extra time.

“So really, obviously disappointed, disappointed that we’ve conceded the goals in the manner which we did. And again, I just go back to it’s my team so I’m responsible for that.”

O’Neill also admitted the defeat ranks among the most painful results of his time at Celtic.

“I would say absolutely, yes,” he added when asked if it was one of the club’s worst European results.

“I put it up there before with the disappointment of losing the UEFA Cup final in 2003, but tonight is so, so disappointing.”