The Europa League, like Celtic, is second rate, that’s the reality

In partnership with

The Celtic Star

·29 January 2026

The Europa League, like Celtic, is second rate, that’s the reality

Admittedly the Europa League is clearly a damp squib compared to the Champions League, but we still want to progress and stay involved for as long as we possibly can this season…

Kasper Schmeichel of Celtic celebrates. Bologna v Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Group Stage, Football, Renato Dall Ara Stadium, Bologna, Italy – 22 January 2026. Photo Michael Zemanek IMAGO/Shutterstock

The Europa league is a second rate competition in comparison the Champions League which is head and shoulders above where we’re playing having missed out on our place at the top table by failing to beat Kairat Almaty who got one point more than we predicted (they finished on one point) in the group stages that concluded last night.

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The entire landscape is different, from the anthems, to the atmosphere, the pre-match excitement, the opposition, the interest from around the world. It’s not comparable, it’s worlds apart.

As the hours tick away until tonight’s clash with FC Utrecht, that same sense of excitement just isn’t there. The same rush of enthusiasm you get when preparing to take on the biggest clubs on the continent is missing. I’m sure most Celtic supporters will be feeling the same way.

Auston Trusty of Celtic FC celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between Bologna FC 1909 and Celtic FC at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on January 22, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Tonight all the same is a must win, three points will guarantee us a play off spot, and although we could do without the inconvenience of the extra games, it’s vital for our image as a club that we progress on the European stage after that almighty embarrassment in the Champions League play-offs last summer.

For too long now we’ve faltered at this stage, and now we have a chance to step up and be counted. It’s a million miles away from this time last year when we were taking on, and competing with the might of Bayern Munich, but it is what it is, and you could say we’ve found our level, which is sadly bottom half level in Europe’s secondary competition.

If things continue to go domestically we might be writing about how the Conference League is not a patch on the good old days of us playing in the the Europa League as Champions League participation becomes a distant memory. Ross Desmond and his dad’s self fulfilling prophecy and all that as the asset stripping and downsizing at Celtic continues.

Celtic celebrations after Reo Hatate opens the score during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between Bologna FC 1909 and Celtic FC at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on January 22, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

A win this evening would not only rejuvenate our chances in this competition, it would give us a much needed boost heading into a run of fixtures that are all of the must win variety.

The atmosphere in Paradise will be diluted in terms of what we experience on a Champions League night when that famous music is blaring, but the same feeling and expectation of winning will be the same. That goes without saying.

FC Utrecht will have the backing of a substantial Dutch support who will make plenty of noise. The Celtic support will hopefully feed off that and create our own atmosphere that has been sadly lacking partly due to the Board’s disgraceful decision to extend indefinitely the ban on the Green Brigade (who have paid for their season tickets like the rest of us).

The Europa League might not carry the same importance, and it might not feel like it, but tonight we need to, and more importantly, we want to win. We want to advance in this competition, we won’t accept anything less.

The Celtic players showed tremendous fight and determination not to be beaten in Bologna last Tuesday night despite playing the majority of the match with ten men against a very good Italian side.

The reward for that is the chance this evening to see off FC Utrecht who have just a single point from their campaign and will be desperate to get a win for their own sakes as they try to turn around a major form slump.

Players of Celtic pose for a team photograph prior to the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Feyenoord and Celtic FC at De Kuip on November 27, 2025 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Tonight we should put aside our domestic worries in the league and concentrate on backing the team playing under the lights at Celtic Park on a European night. It might not be the top table but maybe missing out on that this year was no bad thing given the depleted squad we have caused by injuries and unforgivable boardroom failings.

Best of luck to the Bhoys this evening, let’s get the job done.

COYBIG

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

And a quick reminder…

It’s the last few days of the Half Price January sale at Celtic Star Books. Every book ordered is now just £10 and p&p is only charged on the first book at £4.50. So ordering three books will cost a total of £34.50 and given you a £30 saving. Order at celticstarbooks.com/shop

All Books Now Half Price in the Celtic Star Books January Sale…

These books now available at at HALF PRICE in our January sale – click on image to order…

Order from Celtic Star Books HERE!

Please note that p&p is priced at £4.50 is only charged on ONE book so you can buy as many of our books as you like and the postage cost will remain the same. Why not expand your Celtic library today?