Questions Raised After Celtic Champions League Exit | OneFootball

Celtic at a Crossroads After Champions League Exit

“All we can do now is look at where we’re at as a football club and decide where we want to go.” Brendan Rodgers’ words hung heavy after Celtic’s gut-wrenching Champions League exit on penalties to Kairat Almaty in Kazakhstan. A defeat of this magnitude is more than a footballing setback, it is a financial and psychological blow that reverberates far beyond a summer night in Europe.

Just six months ago, Celtic came close to humbling Bayern Munich. Now, they find themselves staring down the harsh reality of Europa League football. The Scottish champions are left pondering how they slipped from the brink of Europe’s elite to a competition that brings a fraction of the prestige and riches.

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Financial Reality of Missing the Champions League

Qualification for the Champions League delivers a financial windfall of around €18 million (£15.5 million) in prize money alone. Add to that ticket sales, broadcasting revenue, commercial sponsorship and hospitality income, and the numbers quickly escalate into a transformative figure for any club operating outside Europe’s top five leagues.

In stark contrast, dropping into the Europa League slashes that guaranteed income to a little over €4 million (£3.46 million). Even the rewards for winning differ sharply: €2 million (£1.73 million) per victory in the Champions League compared to €450,000 (£388,000) in the Europa League. For a club with Celtic’s ambitions and stature, that disparity matters enormously.

Rodgers understands this better than anyone. “The Champions League is a wonderful competition,” he admitted after failing to qualify for the fourth consecutive season. “But as we always do we will have to stick together as a squad. It’s a tough one to take, but we didn’t do enough over the two legs.”

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Where It Went Wrong for Celtic

Across both legs, Celtic dominated possession, controlling 67 per cent of the ball. Yet dominance without incision is a hollow victory. In Almaty, they managed just five shots on target compared to Kairat’s four, producing an expected goals tally of only 0.5 until late in extra time. The lack of creativity was glaring.

“There was a lack of creativity in the final third, set-plays were poor, not enough movement so pressure is on,” said former Celtic midfielder John Collins. “Everybody in the whole country is shocked Celtic haven’t recruited at the top of the pitch. The biggest disappointment for everybody associated with Celtic is that they’ve been knocked out by a very average team. Kairat are not a Champions League team.”

That sentiment was echoed by Aiden McGeady on BBC Radio Scotland: “The performances were not good enough. Ultimately it goes back down to forward planning. Fail to prepare, prepare to fail. It’s been a very difficult watch over the two legs, the quality is not there. If Celtic had got through they would have been very lucky. It’s a terrible way to go out the Champions League, but it’s a stark reminder.”

The moment that summed up Celtic’s shortcomings arrived in the 85th minute when Daizen Maeda blazed over from close range. It was a chance that demanded composure and precision, both of which deserted him in the defining moment.

Rodgers Calls for Reinforcements as Pressure Builds

Rodgers did not hide his disappointment but remained loyal to his players. “From the first day back they’ve been brilliant, domestically we’ve started well, but at this level, even with teams that don’t quite have the quality, you still need that little bit of extra finesse and precision.”

Celtic captain Callum McGregor was equally candid after the shootout defeat: “We didn’t deserve to qualify,” he said. “We have to regroup, we know we have a big game on Sunday [against Rangers] as well. It’s a real sore one for the club in general in terms of the finances and everything else. We still need help, we still need bodies in the door and hopefully the club can do that.”

The urgency is clear. The Old Firm clash looms large, and while Celtic have started stronger than Rangers in the league, failure to respond could see momentum shift quickly. Supporters are restless, not only because of the loss but also because of what it represents: a perception of stagnation in European competition.

What Happens Next?

There are under seven days left in the transfer window, and Rodgers knows that his squad requires reinforcements. James Forrest, Yang and Maeda led the line in Kazakhstan, with Adam Idah and Arne Engels introduced from the bench, but none were able to tilt the tie in Celtic’s favour. This lack of cutting edge was glaring across 210 minutes of football.

Rodgers was blunt when asked if Europa League participation will influence the club’s transfer approach: “I haven’t a clue. I really don’t know.” That uncertainty will do little to calm fans who expect Celtic to make signings capable of ensuring future Champions League qualification.

A Europa League run offers some form of consolation, and perhaps more winnable ties, but the bitter taste of defeat will linger. Celtic needed to be in Europe’s top table. Instead, they are counting the cost of another missed opportunity.